Why Ruto Missed Utamaduni Day Celebrations
President William Ruto was unable to attend the inaugural Utamaduni Day celebration at Bomas of Kenya because he was in Uganda to resolve border issues.
However, First Lady Rachel Ruto, along with Public Service CS Moses Kuria, Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura, and several legislators and government officials, represented the President.
In her opening remarks, Mama Rachel described the Bomas of Kenya event as one-of-a-kind. This was Kenya’s first Utamaduni Day celebration in honor of the country’s abundant cultural diversity.
“Before I continue, allow me to pass my warm greetings from the President of the Republic of Kenya, Dr. William Ruto,” Mama Rachel commented on the President’s absence.
“This is a day to unite and rejoice in our ethnic diversity, traditions, languages, and customs that together create a magnificent tapestry of unity within our diversity,” she added.
CS Public Service Moses Kuria also appeared on stage in a traditional Kikuyu costume, while government spokesman Isaac Mwaura wore a long white Swahili robe.
“For the first time now, we have a bill to protect our culture, our cabinet approved that Kenya join the UNESCO protocol of 1944 for the protection of culture, so those foreign people and foreign nations usually come here rating our artifacts, emblems, heritage, ushanga, our culture we are saying now that that is going to be a thing of the past” CS Moses Kuria commented in his speech.
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However, the Principal Secretary of the State Department of Culture, Arts, and Heritage, Ummi Bashir, was disappointed that Ruto did not attend the opening ceremony.
The 10th of October was originally known as Moi Day in honor of Kenya’s second president, Daniel Arap Moi, and was later renamed Huduma Day. As a result of Statute Miscellaneous Amendments Act No. 29 of 2020, it was renamed Utamaduni Day in 2020.
In contrast to other Kenyan National Holidays commemorating a national event, Kenyans uniquely commemorate this holiday. While the national celebrations were taking place in the Bomas of Kenya, satellite events were conducted in other counties, where Kenyans participated in a variety of entertaining activities.
In the meantime, Ruto fulfilled his vow to fly to Uganda for a crisis meeting with Yoweri Museveni, the president of the neighboring country. Ruto pledged to discuss border issues and the plight of Ugandan police-arrested and harassed fishermen on Saturday, October 7.
“You have talked about security. You have said that the fishermen are lamenting about theft and their lives being at risk. I assure you that on Tuesday, I will pay a visit to Museveni and discuss how these things will work out,” Ruto stated while addressing Homa Bay residents during his tour in Nyanza.
Why Ruto Missed Utamaduni Day Celebrations
