President Uhuru Kenyatta calls for consolidated unity as Kenya marks 50th birthday

By PSCU

Nairobi, Kenya: President Uhuru Kenyatta has appealed to all Kenyans to unite and cultivate bonds that will see the country rapidly achieve its development goals.

He said Kenyans should embrace the unity exhibited by freedom fighters and regardless of race, tribe, religion or class, join hands to build a prosperous nation, devoid of ethnic or parochial divisions.

“We must remain united as Kenyans and I underscore, it is not a matter of choice,” he said.

The President was speaking Thursday when he led the nation in celebrating the 50th anniversary of the country’s independence at the Safaricom Stadium, Kasarani in Nairobi.

He paid glowing tribute to the country’s independence icons and the continent’s liberation heroes and heroines.

The President said all Pan-Africanists whose sacrifice and unity of purpose saw the liberation of the continent must be remembered.

He noted that together with Kenya’s founding President Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana, Mwalimu Julius Nyerere of Tanzania, Kenneth Kaunda of Zambia, Algeria’s founding President Ahmed Ben Bella
and the legendary Nelson Mandela were visionaries who saw a united Africa as the foundation of a truly prosperous continent.

“We are proud of these great sons of Africa and acknowledge their sacrificial role which continues to shape our continent.” President Uhuru said.

As Kenyans commemorate the historic Jamhuri Day, the President urged them to reflect on the sacrifices the freedom fighters made to liberate the country and emulate their patriotism.

“At a dark time, these heroes and heroines, peasants, menial labourers, clerks, traders, the youth and other ordinary people – chose, at an enormous personal cost, to take the just path for their nation,” the President said.

He said citizens have to commit themselves to always defend the value of the country’s freedom and sovereignty that came at a high cost.