The government has capped invitees to Uhuru Gardens for this year’s Jamhuri Day celebration at 11,000
Out of this, 10,000 people will be on the public grounds while 1,000 will be on the dais at the venue that has undergone major renovations.
“In adherence to the containment measures, we will allow only 10,000 people in the public sitting area and around 1,000 in the main dias. Invitations will be done through our usual systems (Nyumba Kumi and the NGAOs structure) to ensure that there is equal participation and fair representation by all classes,” said Interior Principal Secretary Dr. Karanja Kibicho who chairs the National Celebrations Committee.
The limitations meant to curb the spread of the pandemic, even though the number more than triples invitees who attended Mashujaa Day in Wanguru Stadium, Kirinyaga County.
Dr. Kibicho spoke after he led the National Celebrations Committee on an inspection tour of the reconstructed gardens which has been closed for civil works for almost a year.
The renovation work which is being undertaken by the Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) is now 95 percent complete.
The Committee and other stakeholders are expected to meet this weekend to decide on whether parallel Jamhuri Day celebrations will be marked in the counties across the country as was the practice before the pandemic.
“Ordinarily, since the beginning of the pandemic in our country, we have been holding just one celebration, which is presided over by the Head of State, while others are advised to watch on TV. We are not out of the woods yet. We will be making that decision this weekend,” he said.
Holding the national celebrations at Uhuru Gardens will be a deviation from the tradition of marking the day at the Nyayo National Stadium.
