Sagana State Lodge: Uhuru & Ruto’s Distinct Traditions
The Sagana State Lodge occupies a notable position in the political history of Kenya, given the importance of the rituals and events held at the facility.
President William Ruto, like his forerunner Uhuru Kenyatta, made a trip to the lodge on Saturday, August 5th, as part of his tour focused on the development of the Mount Kenya area.
Despite their contrasting political viewpoints, Ruto has consistently maintained and safeguarded the fundamental customs at the lodge, similarly to how his predecessor accomplished the same.
Official Reception
When they arrived at the State Lodge on various occasions throughout their terms, both Presidents experienced a heartwarming customary welcome, which involved a guard of honor at the entrance.
As a component of this procession, a cluster of officers forms a row in proximity to the entrance. Subsequently, the vehicle carrying the President momentarily halts, symbolizing admiration for the uniformed officers.
Afterward, the officials sound their trumpets to indicate the president’s arrival. The melody employed for this event changes depending on the ruling administration, contributing a distinctive element to the ritual.
The custom was also followed upon Ruto’s arrival at the Lodge.
Dennis Itumbi, a Digital Strategist, posted a video that depicted a brief yet significant moment. This occurrence, which lasted less than sixty seconds, mirrored a similar pattern seen during President Uhuru’s three Sagana meetings, highlighting its importance.
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua restated that the reception of Ruto held political importance, underscoring their desire to welcome him as an esteemed individual, akin to a prominent leader.
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“Even though we elected you, we had not confirmed you as a leader in this region. The way it is done is that a leader must come from Nairobi through River Chania by road and not by plane. That journey must take eight hours – no more, no less.
“Yesterday you crossed River Chania at 10:38 pm and we received you at the gate at exactly 6:38 pm” he stated.
Open to Public
Sagana State Lodge stands out among official government facilities by being more accessible to nearby residents on occasion.
President Uhuru Kenyatta held important political gatherings in the location. As an example, in September 2021, Uhuru leveraged the occasion to garner backing for the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) and the reconciliation with former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
The importance of the political gatherings conducted at the lodge is so great that Uhuru was alleged to have used the location improperly to weaken Ruto’s position, who served as his deputy during that period. The previous leader frequently spoke to politicians from the Mt. Kenya region and conducted discussions in his native language to establish a connection with his political supporters from the same region.
Ruto’s group has taken steps to rename the State Lodge. On Sunday, August 6, they arranged a religious gathering and kindly invited residents, providing them with refreshments to create a hospitable atmosphere.
“We want Ruto to transform this State Lodge to be a place of peace and development. This place was really misused to divide us and I could hear the hate speeches from my house because I live around here,” he stated.
“When I said that we would eat rice and meat after winning they thought that I was joking.”
History of the Lodge
Following Kenya’s independence in 1963, the British government transferred ownership of the Sagana State Lodge to the Kenyan government. Before this, the lodge had been utilized by Queen Elizabeth II when she visited Kenya.
According to reports, the lodge was presented to the queen as a gift after her wedding to the Duke of Edinburgh.
Sagana State Lodge: Uhuru & Ruto’s Distinct Traditions
