Mashujaa Day Archives - Daily Trends

Reprieve To Kenyans As Uhuru Lifts Nationwide Curfew

by Mustafa Juma October 20, 2021

President Uhuru Kenyatta has lifted the nationwide dusk to dawn curfew.

Speaking during the Mashujaa Day celebrations at Wang’uru Stadium in Mwea, Kirinyaga County on Wednesday October 20, 2021, President Kenyatta noted that the country has recorded a progress in the fight against Covid-19.

He pointed out the low positivity rate recorded in the past two weeks and the high number of the population vaccinated as some of the achievements.

Kenya has met a majority of indicators used to downgrade restrictions in line with World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines, including ICU admissions, positivity rate and deaths.

This has seen public health officials, politicians and traders push President Kenyatta to relax the restrictions, including the night curfew, that have stifled business and hampered economic growth.

The WHO recommends that restrictions can be eased if the positivity rate, the proportion of tests coming back positive remains below five percent for at least two weeks.

The UN body says governments can also relax the containment measures if hospitalisations and ICU admissions decline for the last two weeks and Covid-19 deaths drop over a period of three weeks.

Kenya’s positivity rate has remained below five percent since September 30 and dropped from 14.5 percent on August 15 to 2.3 percent yesterday as the government steps up testing and vaccination.

On Tuesday, President Kenyatta hinted that the Covid-19 containment measures could be eased in the coming days.

Hospitalisations from Covid-19 have been falling over the past three weeks from 1, 021 admissions in September 30 to 586 yesterday.

Kenya has been under curfew since March 2020 when the country reported its first cases of Covid-19

October 20, 2021 0 comment

Politics

Nationwide Curfew To Be Lifted, Uhuru Says

by Mustafa Juma October 18, 2021

written by Mustafa Juma

The ongoing nationwide curfew will be lifted soon, President Uhuru Kenyatta has said.

The head of state who on Monday October 18, 2021 met a section of Kirinyaga County leaders urged Kenyans to however, continue observing Covid-19 protocols.

The meeting happened at the Sagana State Lodge in Nyeri county for what State House has described as a series of official engagements with leaders.

President Kenyatta hinted at ending the curfew amid protests from Kenyans, following the rise in political rallies across the country.

Earlier on, there were speculations that the nationwide curfew which has been in force since March 2020 when Kenya reported its first cases of Covid-19 will be ended during this year’s Mashujaa Day celebrations.

Among the leaders who met the president are those from Kirinyaga county who are expected to discuss preparations for Wednesday’s Mashujaa Day.

Interior PS Karanja Kibicho and Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru are among the leaders meeting the president.

This year’s Mashujaa Day will be held at Wang’uru Stadium in Mwea.

Uhuru urged Kirinyaga leaders to unite and work together as a team to achieve faster development and prosperity for their County.

October 18, 2021 0 comment

Government Bans Mashujaa Day Celebrations In Counties

by Yahil Felix September 24, 2021

written by Yahil Felix

There is a new twist of events this time as the government bans Mashujaa Day Celebrations. In an announcement made on Friday, the government said that there won’t be such celebration as usual in counties due to COVID-19 pandemic.

Photo:Uhuru Kenyatta during the past Mashujaa Day [Courtesy}

The national celebration which was earmarked to be celebrated this time in Kirinyaga County will no longer be held. Traditionally, the event was celebrated at Nyayo Natinal Stadium since independence, but Uhuru’s government adopted a new policy which required it to be celebrated on rotation basis in counties. Last year’s celebration was held at Gusii Stadium in Kisii County.

Mashujaa Day is an important fete in Kenya celebrated on 20th of October every year. This was done as a commemoration of the first president of Kenya, Jomo Kenyatta and the important task he took in fighting for independence from the British. He was arrested and detained alongside six others where they were later came to be known as the ‘Kapenguria Six.’

Photo: Billboard bearing Uhuru Kenyatta’s picture that had been erected during Mashujaa day celebration in Kisii [Courtesy].

September 24, 2021 0 comment

7 benefits Kipchoge is entitled to for getting an E.G.H

by Mustafa Juma October 21, 2019

written by Mustafa Juma

Eliud Kipchoge, the greatest marathoner on the planet, has just been conferred with the second highest honour granted to civilians in Kenya.

President Uhuru Kenyatta conferred the honour, Elder of the Order of the Golden Heart, on Kipchoge on Sunday during Mashujaa Day celebrations held in Mombasa.

Kipchoge received the honour for his accomplishment of running a marathon in under two hours in Vienna, a feat thought unthinkable and nearly impossible, and in the process inspiring not just Kenyans, but the whole world.

But what are Kenya’s national heroes entitled to?

Under the National Heroes Act which was passed by Parliament in 2014 — but yet to come into force — Kipchoge would be entitled to the following benefits.

But Kipchoge may not enjoy the benefits listed below because the EGH honour he has received is under the National Honours Act.

In addition to a Certificate Of Declaration of Hero, Section 25 of the National Heroes Act says that a person recognized as a hero would be entitled to:

Invitations to national and community functions as a state guest.
Having cultural festivals, concerts, exhibitions and sports events organized in their honour.
Having towns, institutions, open parks in urban areas, roads, streets, estates, stamps and notable landmarks named after them.
The award of medals, insignia, commendations, certificates and such other commemorative as may be determined by the Council from time to time.
The issuance of such postage stamps, scarves, mementos, utensils, apparel and artifacts as may be determined by the Council from time to time.
The publication of books depicting their respective roles in the country’s history or the social life of the society, which shall be part of the educational curriculum or being accorded financial assistance from the National Heroes Fund where their economic circumstances warrant such assistance.
The government may also give national heroes who are in need of assistance the following, though they are not entitled to them: health care services, housing, food, access to clean and safe water, social security, and free education for their dependants of school-going age up to tertiary level.

What are those with national honours entitled to?

The National Honours Act does not specify any benefits but in Section 14(2) it says that the Cabinet Secretary may make regulations to “prescribe the privileges or benefits that shall attach to a national honour.”

October 21, 2019 0 comment