Jamhuri Day Celebrations: Uhuru Makes Raila ‘Special President’

By the time Deputy President William Ruto was inviting his boss, President Uhuru Kenyatta, to make final remarks at the Jamhuri Day celebrations, ODM leader Raila Odinga’s supporters were a frustrated lot – he was not part of the programme.

The President delivered his speech, but before he was done, he recognized the former Prime Minister.

He heaped praises at the AU Special Envoy, crediting him for beautiful renovations that has been done at Uhuru Gardens, where the national event took place this afternoon.

The Head of State acknowledged that were it not for the efforts of the opposition boss, the project would not have been successful as it was.

“I have sought advise and counsel from my brother Raila Odinga. I want to thank him because for the last 14 months, he has been part and parcel of the work you see here today,” he said.

Protocol Breach

And when Kenyans thought the President was done, he graciously invited the former Premier to make closing remarks.

“Come say something to these people, they want to hear from you,” he said.

Raila majestically walked to the podium with a broad smile on his face.

He started by thanking President for giving him the honour to address the country on such an important occasion.

The veteran politician confirmed that he was behind the upgrading at Uhuru Gardens.

“I asked the President to visit Namibia and do some benchmark on how we can renovate Uhuru Gardens. He was impressed and promised that Kenya would do better,” he said.

Additionally, Raila sensationally claimed that some unnamed Kenyans with insatiable appetite for public land wanted to grab the garden.

“Were it not for President Kenyatta, some people who do not want to see any open spaces would have stolen this land.”

Of the four Presidents Kenya has produced, Uhuru became the first one to allow an opposition chief to make the final speech during a national event.

The historic protocol breach got Kenyans talking, with some saying it was symbolic and suggested that the President had settled on Raila as his successor.