LUCY FALLS

A freak tumble by First Lady Lucy Kibaki was one of the few unfortunate incidents during Saturday’s Jamhuri Day celebrations at Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi, an event that also exposed the deep divisions within the ODM party.

The First Lady missed her step going down the stairs as the President’s party left the dais at the end of the celebrations as President Mwai Kibaki looked on.

Her aides rushed to help her and back on her feet again, a jovial Mrs Kibaki dusted herself off and proceeded to the waiting car with the President in tow.

The 46th Jamhuri Day celebration on Saturday was one of the best-attended as thousands of Kenyans braved the December sun to listen to their leaders.

A carnival atmosphere engulfed the stadium way before Mr Kibaki, the chief guest, arrived. Maroon Commandos, the army band, ensured the crowd that kept swelling by the minute stayed on the edge of their seats. Security men in the hundreds hovered inside and outside the stadium, some on horseback.

President Kibaki arrived shortly before 11 a.m. and performed the traditional inspection of the guard of honour mounted by the armed forces.

The unforgiving heat, however, claimed its first casualty when a member of the navy, who was part of the Armed Forces parade, fainted in the middle of a march past.

He was caught by his colleagues in the nick of time before he collapsed. He was led away from the parade to receive medical attention.

Captured the attention

Entertainment was provided by the children from SOS Children’s Villages who captured the attention of the dignitaries and the crowd with their song Sote Tupendane.

Others who entertained the crowd were local comedy group Papa Shirandula and Bukembe dancers from Bungoma who performed a traditional Bukusu number.

The heat was also rising on the political front as the divisions within ODM once again came to the fore during the celebrations. Prime Minister Raila Odinga arrived shortly after his rival, William Ruto.

The Agriculture minister had arrived earlier with his political friend and ODM pentagon member, Najib Balala, in tow. They headed straight to their seats in the back row on the main dais.

When the PM arrived, he went straight to his seat in the front row without exchanging any pleasantries with Mr Ruto or Mr Balala.

Unlike periods following the 2007 General Election when ODM members stood as a mark of respect for the PM, there was no sign of it Saturday.

The PM engaged House Speaker Kenneth Marende in an animated chat as they waited for the President to arrive.

When he stood to speak, Mr Odinga was as unforgiving as the hot sun, tearing into those opposed to the Mau Forest evictions. Mr Ruto watched pensively as the PM appealed to the crowd that roared back in full approval of the evictions.

“Those who have voluntarily vacated the Mau are the small fish. The government shall help them find a place to stay,” Mr Odinga said.

“But the big fish have stuck there, and they are the ones shouting at the top of their voices,” he added, warning that their days were numbered.

“We shall work with the rest of Kenyans to protect our forests,” he said before welcoming the President, a task that fell on his shoulders in the absence of Vice- President Kalonzo Musyoka, who was at an international meeting in Libya.

The Mau Forest issue was also captured by the popular local comedy group Papa Shirandula that worked up the crowd and appeared to set the tone for the PM’s onslaught.

There was another first at Saturday’s celebrations when a Kisii elder offered prayers.

Over the years the country has become used to traditional prayers being said by a Samburu elder. But yesterday the honour fell to Mzee Abae Ochoi from Kisii Central.

Dressed in an animal skin, Mzee Ochoi implored the deity for his blessings on Kenya as well as on the leaders in Ekegusii.

A Presbyterian Church of East African clergyman also offered a long prayer.