President Uhuru Kenyatta during today’s Mashujaa Day fete in Nairobi. The ceremonies failed to take of in Kisumu County as the president’s speech was not sent. [Photo Courtesy]
Mashujaa Day celebrations failed to take off in Kisumu County even after the venue was moved to Nyakach sub-county.
This was so despite the a section of heads of departments, prisons band, Administration and General police had already converged at Kogola primary school, Pap Onditi the venue of the Kisumu County celebrations.
In a letter Ref: CC/KC/CER 7/V0L.1 (26) dated September 19, 2017 Kisumu County Commissioner, Mrs. Pauline Dola wrote to all departmental heads inviting them to attend the Mashujaa Day Celebrations slated to take place at Kogola primary, Nyakach sub-county.
It stated that this year’s Mashujaa Day celebration will be held on Friday 20th October, 2017 at Nyakach Sub County Kogola Primary School Pap Onditi. The purpose of this letter is to invite you to the above mentioned function.
Deputy County Commissioner Tom Macheneri stated that they were waiting for the Presidential speech without which the event would not proceed.
Similar confusion was reported in all sub-counties in the region with numerous unsubstantiated rumors going round in an attempt to explain the circumstance surrounding the failure to hold the Mashujaa Day Celebrations.
A few members of the public, choirs and other entertainment groups turned up at Pap Onditi and Kisumu in anticipation of the celebrations but were disappointed to learn that it had indeed been called off.
Even the organizers of the Mashujaa Day celebrations in Kisumu appeared confused and no one was ready to explain what really transpired to prompt the national event being called off.
Security apparatus were on red alert considering that the National Super Alliance (NASA) Coalition was scheduled to hold a rally to be addressed by the former Prime Minister, Raila Odinga and his co-principals at Ogango grounds, along Kibos road in Kisumu today.