Madaraka Day Festivities in Isinya

BY Sheila Ngigi

The 1st of June saw a large crowd of Isinya residents gather at Isinya Primary school as they had always done, only this time it was different, it was their first in this new constitutional dispensation and devolution. In attendance were various dignitaries notably the Deputy County Commissioner and his assistants, down to area chiefs. 

Residents following Madaraka day proceedings keenly

Men, women and children arrived at the school's playground early, braving the early morning cold which before long  gave way to the scorching sun.

And we were not disappointed; beats of police tunes lent the morning air entertaining the crowd that had hitherto milled around ready to listen to their leaders.Pupils of Topride academy were also not left behind as they amused the guests with a choral verse asking for unity in the country. Pupils of Isinya primary school who were clad in multicoloured Maasai attire thrilled the multitude with cultural Maasai melodies that left all and sundry moving their heads to the tune.

Pupils of Isinya Primary Entertain guests

                     
Mr. Ekai, the assistant County Commissioner and emcee of the day, called speakers to the podium one by one. One after the other, they exhorted one another to embrace devolution and work together with their leaders to foster development. Other speakers candidly in expressed their misgivings regarding some issues in the district. Key among them were insecurity and water shortages that have become frequent in the district.

The bodaboda riders, who are usually the youth, were accused of operating without licenses besides lacking requisite qualifications thus causing many accidents and injuring many residents. Moreover, residents complained of lack of water which compromised the levels of health and hygiene in the district. Many women protested that they had to spend long hours queuing for water.

The climax of the ceremony was the reading of the president's speech by the Deputy County Commissioner. Mr.Hassan Bule, stepped on the podium dressed in his neat commissioner's uniform. The speech, read in Kiswahili celebrated 50 years of self rule urging residents to "be dedicated to  partriotism, selflessness and diligence and renew their commitment to build a freer, richer, stronger and fairer Kenya than we inherited."

Isinya, Deputy County commissioner Mr. Hassan Bule delivering the president's speech

Among all these, Vision 2030 did not escape the President who prayed the residents to see it through to reality by embracing ICTs and all it has to offer. Supporting the implementation of free laptops for school children was one of the ways of doing so.

In his own words, Mr.Bule implored the people to desist from ethnicity which is an impetus to underdevelopment and useless conflicts. He further promised action against water companies that failed to provide water services to residents giving them an ultimatum of one week. He also commanded the police department to tighten on their security measures and put stringent measures on bar owners who operated against the law as these bars were breeding ground for criminals.

 The ceremony came to a close with residents hopeful that we would together make Kenya a better nation.