Why Sakaja’s Mother Was Honored as a National Hero
Emily Ayoti Kubasu Sakaja, the mother of Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, was posthumously honored with the National Heroes Award on Friday, December 6.
Governor Sakaja, accompanied by his siblings, accepted the award on behalf of their late mother, who was recognized for her outstanding contributions to Kenyan sports.
Taking to his X platform, Sakaja thanked President William Ruto, Culture, Arts, and Heritage Principal Secretary Ummi Bashir, and the National Heroes Council for acknowledging his mother’s legacy as a trailblazer in Kenyan athletics.
Sakaja shared, “Together with my siblings, I received the National Heroes Award posthumously in honor of Emily Ayoti Kubasu Sakaja, a Kenyan athletic icon, and our beloved mother. Thank you, William Ruto, PS Ummi Bashir, and the National Heroes Council for celebrating our champion.”
Although Emily Kubasu’s life is not widely documented, her victory in the 100-meter race at the 1971 East and Central African Championships is remembered as one of her greatest achievements.
She paved the way for future generations of Kenyan sprinters, including stars like Ferdinand Omanyala, Mercy Chebet, and Collins Omae, laying the groundwork for their careers.
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The East and Central African Championships, which ran for 32 years before being discontinued in 1990, featured athletes from various regional countries, showcasing talent like Emily’s.
After her athletic career, Emily transitioned into a role as a prison officer, rising through the ranks until her untimely death in 1994, when Sakaja was just nine years old.
Sakaja has often spoken of the profound impact his mother had on his upbringing, molding his character and influencing the man he is today. In particular, when he was a Nairobi senator, he referenced her strength during a time when his position within the Jubilee party was threatened.
In August 2020, Jubilee Party Vice Chairman David Murathe warned that members, including Sakaja, who opposed the party’s stance on the revenue allocation formula would be expelled.
In response, Sakaja remained resolute, invoking his mother’s legacy when declaring his stance against intimidation: “Having come this far and cast my vote, those who wish to arrest me may proceed. I am not easily intimidated; I am the son of Emily Ayoti Kubasu, a champion, and I will face any consequences for standing up for this country,” he declared in the Senate on August 5, 2020.
The National Heroes Council is a government agency dedicated to recognizing the contributions of national heroes, guided by the values of patriotism, integrity, innovation, diversity, and professionalism.
Why Sakaja’s Mother Was Honored as a National Hero
