State House in Nairobi. Photo/File
Controversy surrounds last Sunday's Mashujaa Day celebrations after it emerged that some unscrupulous government officials 'scalping' invitation cards to the State House luncheon and garden party.
Several sources confirmed that the cards— some of them meant for specific government officials, leaders of political parties and others who had been invited for contributing towards the Jubilee Coalition's election campaigns were being sold for between Sh10, 000 and Sh50,000 depending on “the buyer’s financial muscle and interests.”
The sources estimated that at least 200 people who were supposed to be guests of the president at State House did not receive their invitation cards. The disappointed guests included several top officials of Uhuru's The National Alliance Party.
Most of those who bought the cards were wheeler dealer businessmen and brokers who seek out opportunities where senior government officials are gathered to push through their business deals.
One of the organizers of the event who did not want to be quoted since the issue presents a clear indication of a breach in State House security and protocol said the sale of the invitation cards caused "a lot of problems.”
“I am not surprised that such a thing happened. There has been a problem between the old and new order,” said another senior government official in reference to the Kibaki and Uhuru regimes. He also requested for anonymity as he is not supposed to comment on matters to do with State House.
The luncheon was held at State House on Sunday afternoon after Uhuru Kenyatta led the country in celebrating Mashujaa day at Nyayo National Stadium. It was Uhuru’s first Mashujaa Day as president.
The event was being organised by the Office of the President in collaboration with the ministry of Sports, Culture and Arts which is headed by Cabinet Secretary Hassan Wario.
The luncheon at State House was however organised by the Office of the President and specifically the department of events and branding whose head is James Kinyua.
The luncheon was by invitation only and guests had to surrender their cards at the card as part of the security measures instituted at State House.
Asked to comment on these allegations, State House spokesman Manoah Esipisu declined to do and dismissed the reports as "rumours and speculations."
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