During the occasion, the President will launch the Kenya@50 Celebration Calendar/FILE
The national celebrations will be held at Nyayo National Stadium and in all county headquarters.
During the occasion, the President will launch the Kenya@50 Celebration Calendar, effectively kicking off a raft of activities to mark the country’s 50 years of independence.
President Kenyatta is scheduled to arrive at the stadium for the event at 10.55am.
On arrival, the President will be received by the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), General Julius Karangi.
Deputy President William Ruto will miss out on the first Mashujaa Day celebrations under the Jubilee government but will commemorate the day in Brussels, Belgium with Kenyans living in Europe.
The celebrations will be held at the Palace of the Colonies where Kenya’s ambassadors to Belgium Johnson Weru and Makena Muchiri from the Netherlands will be in attendance.
The celebrations will feature an inter-denominational service.
Ruto’s absence in Kenya is due to the ongoing trials at the International Criminal Court where he’s facing charges with former radio presenter Joshua arap Sang.
The celebrations come exactly one month since terrorist attack at the Westgate shopping mall.
During the attack, more than 60 persons died and hundreds were left injured.
As the country marks 50 years of independence, security remains a major challenge but the government has initiated plans to tighten security.
On October 7, the government issued an order requiring both regional coordinators and county commissioners to enforce community policing in a bid to curb increasing rates of insecurity in the country.
In a programme dubbed ‘Nyumba Kumi’, all villages will be required to restructure into 10 households under a clear leadership that will be responsible for security.
Cabinet Secretary for Interior and Coordination of National Government Joseph ole Lenku said the policy will effectively handle crime cases across all regions.
“The government has directed that the concept of ‘Nyumba Kumi’ be integrated into community policing to ensure that the current system of villages under an elder are restructured into 10 household units similar to a concept in other jurisdictions like Tanzania,” he stated.
He said a legal and institutional framework has already been put in place to ensure communities take a central role in their own security.
“We support the community policing as an effective strategy in the fight against crime and has put in place measures required; this will enhance partnership between the police and community,” he said.
While noting terrorism as the greatest security challenge in the country, Lenku urged security organs to remain vigilant by ensuring security measures were put in place to nip these cases in the bud.
Mashujaa Day is a public holiday set aside on October 20 to collectively honour all those who contributed towards the struggle for Kenya’s independence.
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