Pomp and color as thousands of Embu residents gather for remarkable Christmas day treat

From as early as 10am, residents of Kairuri and the environs flocked at the stadium for what had been billed as the biggest and most elaborate Christmas treat for locals.

Boosted by the Friends of Wakagoto Foundation (FOWA), area business magnate Kenjava "Wakagoto" Mwaniki helped deliver a spectacular Christmas surprise to over 10,000 Embu residents some drawn from villages as far as Karurina, Kivwe and beyond.

Wakagoto, accompanied by his close associates, business peers, friends and family, arrived just before midday, as the residents broke into song and dance, a clear indication of the glorious day ahead.

Armed with a basketful of goodies, Wakagoto treated the thousands of residents with an array of goodies which ranged from ready food, cooking oil, assorted snacks, milk, bread, flour, cooking oil, soap, soft drinks and more.

Taking to his Facebook page, Wakagoto lauded his partners for making the day a success, terming the event as not just a celebration but also a 'living testament' of his commitment and belief in the Foundation's core ideals.

"We had the pleasure of hosting a Mega Christmas Treat for over 10,000 Embu residents at Kairuri Stadium today. This event was not just a celebration, but a living testament to our commitment and belief that this Foundation is for you," he wrote.

"To all those who volunteered their time, resources, and prayers—may God bless you abundantly and continue to pour out His favor as we step into the new year 2025."

The business guru, renowned for the popular Eagle One construction behemoth, also took time to recognise his humble upbringing, narrating his underprivileged childhood and stressing the need to put a smile on children who, just like him, couldn't afford the fancy Christmas privileges.

He wrote: "Growing up in Njukiiri Village life was tough. During Christmas, we could see photos of privileged kids enjoying and celebrating in facilities that we could only dream of because we couldn’t afford it."

"This year, as we planned the Christmas Treat, one thing was clear to me, I wanted to heal my inner child by putting smiles on kids like me by giving them access to the recreation facilities that they would otherwise never experience by creating a state of the art kids park."

Photos shared by the Wakagoto Foundation team shows the residents in their jolly best - beaming with joy, lining up for food, receiving freebies and the children enjoying an assortment of outdoor games including an inflatable swimming pool.

Speaking to the media, Kenjava Wakagoto expressed his excitement at the event's success, stressing his dedication to the welfare of the Embu people and especially the marginalised and the disenfranchised.

"I could not be happier. My heart warms up by just seeing all these people here to make merry and make memories. I'm especially glad to these all these children - Christmas has always been about children and seeing this many children come out and have fun, forget their worries and just enjoy the day, gladdens my heart," he said.

"Seeing the joy and laughter on their faces, I whispered a prayer to God, Thank you, I’m not only happy but we’ve achieved our objective."

Last year, and the year before, Wakagoto delivered the same Christmas surprise to thousands of Embu town residents who, at the time, gathered at the historic Moi Stadium for a day of unbridled fun and much festivities.

"This has always been our objective. We have always strived to bring a smile to the thousands of people who may not otherwise enjoy the kind of day that they may have expected due to financial constraints and other such issues. Witnessing the joy on their faces is our biggest motivation to do even better each year, " Reymi David Miriti, the Wakagoto Foundation Corporate Communication Manager said.

Under the tagline "Touching Lives, Impacting Generations," the foundation continues to focus on initiatives that promote local welfare and cooperation. It also looks to expand its programs to include environmental conservation, digital literacy for rural communities, and micro-grants for women-led businesses in Embu.

"We're also looking into youth empowerment programs that will touch on healthcare campaigns offering free medical services, educational support for disadvantaged students, and entrepreneurship development programs aimed at helping local businesses thrive," Reymi Miriti added.