Uhuru Breaks Protocol, Invites Raila to Speak at Jamhuri Day Fete

President Kenyatta breached protocol during the 2021 Jamhuri Day celebrations on Sunday and invited ODM leader Raila Odinga to speak. 

Kenyatta, who presided over the annual event held at Uhuru Gardens in Nairobi, had just finished making his speech when he invited Odinga to address the gathering.

In his address, the president acknowledged Raila for his role in the refurbishment of the facility that hosted the 58th Jamhuri Day celebrations.

"I would wish to identify one person who walked with me and even advised me on how to go during the refurbishment of this Uhuru Gardens. The man Raila Odinga has been key through his advice. And as I can see these Kenyans want you to address them, please come and say something," Uhuru said.

“We will be back here come April next year to open the museum and the stadium officially so that children and Kenyans can visit this place without any charge,” he added.

The garden is being given a facelift as part of the efforts to preserve its history and the role it played in Kenya's independence struggle.

When Odinga rose to speak, he gave a brief history of Uhuru Gardens, revealing that it had been grabbed before President Uhuru reclaimed it.

 “This land had been grabbed but those land grabbers who don’t see any open space and stop grabbing them but you [Uhuru] managed to retrieve it back for the benefit of our people,” said Odinga.

He added: “Freedom fighters were tortured here. Your excellency what you have done is the best. You have said here you want history unedited so that people will come here to know who Harry Thuku and many of our Kenyans patriots were.”