Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta is expected to retire in about 70 days and this year’s Madaraka Day celebrations will be his last national event in the office.
Several cabinet secretaries on Wednesday, June 1 bid the Head of State a surprise farewell at State House Nairobi moments before he left to lead Kenyans in the national celebrations.
The President together with First Lady Margaret Kenyatta hosted the CSs for a brief session moments before he left for the 59th edition of the Madaraka Day celebrations.
Sports CS Amina Mohamed, her Foreign Affairs counterpart Rachel Omamo, and Fred Matiang’i (Interior) were among those who went to say goodbye to their boss who is expected to retire in about 70 days to come.
However, conspicuously missing was Deputy President William Ruto who was instead receiving Sierra Leone President Julius Maada Wonie Bio at the venue of the Madaraka Day Celebration.
Ruto’s spokesman Emmanuel Talam told the Daily Nation that the 2022 presidential front runner William Ruto was not invited to the State House.
“He wasn’t invited to the State House event,” Talam said.
In their short tributes, the CSs described Uhuru as a mentor and a boss who was always willing to enrich their leadership skills.
“Under his leadership, we have seen the country host many international events in the world. We are the only African country that hosts a continental tour. For me, the highlight of his legacy is the Nairobi Expressway,” Sports CS Amina said.
President Uhuru thanked his cabinet for walking the journey with him, saying he is confident they have laid a firm foundation for his successor.
“I want to thank you as we have worked well together. It has been a pleasure and honor to have you with us,
“I am confident we have laid a firm foundation for those who will come after and continue to build a big, brighter, and more prosperous Kenya from where we have left off,” President Uhuru said.
