President Uhuru Kenyatta led Kenyans as they commemorated the 38th anniversary of the late Mzee Jomo Kenyatta. Kenya’s founding father passed away on August 22nd 1978, and he was laid to rest at the Jomo Kenyatta mausoleum days later. President Uhuru Kenyatta was keen to direct Kenyans towards a peaceful mentality, as he urged unity and togetherness, “Ahead of the 2017 poll, whether we win or lose, we must work together,” he said. “We should seek to be remembered for what we did to make the world a better place,” he added. This statement highlights the vital role the late Mzee Jomo Kenyatta played, to ensure that the country thrives and gains its freedom from the shackles of colonial rule.
Jomo Kenyatta’s efforts to ensure the country gained its independence saw him, together with five others, arrested in October 1952 on charges of “managing and being a member” of the Mau Mau group, who were in rebellion against British colonialists in Kenya. They were famously known as the ‘Kapenguria six’
In keeping with the togetherness that Jomo Kenyatta encouraged, leaders have been encouraged to pursue peace, and President Uhuru Kenyatta, together with opposition leader Raila Odinga insisted that Kenya as a country is more important, “I have set aside everything I had to do today to be here because Kenya is bigger than all of us,“ he said, “We may have political quarrels here and there, but the fact remains that we are one.” Referring to President Uhuru Kenyatta as his younger brother because of how far they have come together in Kenya’s centre stage, Raila Odinga highlighted the immortal stature Kenya’s founding father holds, “Mzee Kenyatta sacrificed a lot for the independence of this country,” he said, a notion that’s shared with all Kenyans as we remember his contributions to an already mature nation.
