Cost of living concerns as Kenyans flock Embu Stadium for Madaraka Day fete

Thousands of people flocked to the Embu Stadium in Embu County on Thursday for the country’s sixtieth Madaraka Day celebrations set to be led by President William Ruto.

By 6 am, the stadium was already full, save for the VIP sitting area reserved for dignitaries while at around 8 am, the military parade was conducting their final dress rehearsal.

Madaraka Day is celebrated on June 1 every year to commemorate the day in 1963 when Kenya attained internal self-rule after being a British colony for 43 years since 1920.

Thursday’s fete was the first time the national event was being held outside the capital Nairobi. It comes at a time when Kenyans are grappling with the high cost of living and heated debate on the Finance Bill, 2023.

The bill contains tax proposals to aid in attaining the government’s objectives in the 2023/24 fiscal year. 

These proposals will include proposed amendments to various tax statutes such as the Income Tax Act, the Value Added Tax Act, the Tax Procedures Act and the Miscellaneous Fees and Levies Act.

But Kenyans who spoke to Citizen Digital ahead of the event said they were expecting President Ruto to address the issues and hopefully make a step back on some of the proposals as they are already weighed down by the biting economic times.

Among the notable government officials in attendance are Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, Chief Justice Martha Koome, Attorney General Justin Muturi, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula and his Senate counterpart Amason Kingi.

Foreign dignitaries invited to the celebrations are Former Niger president Mahamadou Issoufou and President of Comoros Azali Assoumani, who arrived minutes past 11 o’clock.

Dignitaries stream into Moi Stadium, Embu to mark #MadarakaDay celebrations. #KenyaAt60 pic.twitter.com/G9Mps2oZQG

President William Ruto arrived at 11:20 am.