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Kenya’s top leadership today gathers at the lakeside city of Kisumu to celebrate 58 years since the country got internal self-rule from the British colonialists.

It is a celebration of the sacrifices made by committed Kenyans to secure freedom and put the country on the path of self-determination.  

As captured in the founding documents, the independence heroes envisaged a free country at peace with itself, which accords access to opportunity to all and with plenty within its borders.

As President Uhuru Kenyatta has pointed out in the past, national day celebrations provide an opportunity for citizens to reflect on Project Kenya and define their role in making it better for the sake of future generations. 

We are always reminded that nation-building is a tedious journey, with the main actors changing at various stages.

Like in every nation, our journey has been characterised by triumphs and missteps by patriots, fully aware that they share a common bond and destiny. 

The process has demanded courageous decision-making, experimentation, sacrifice and introspection with the commitment that we cannot afford to abandon Project Kenya.

Today, the country will be marking Madaraka Day for the second time in the middle of Covid-19 pandemic which has ravaged households and changed way of life like never before.  

The economy is struggling for the second year running as citizens adapt to life with Covid health protocols and a prolonged night curfew. There is no doubt that it has been a tough time for families, with many losing loved ones to the disease. 

It is, therefore, expected the President will seize the opportunity today to share his reflections on the government’s strategy to the steer country’s economic recovery amid the Covid cloud.  

Uhuru used last year’s Madaraka Day speech to give the country hope, encourage greater resilience and build a strong case for constitutional rebirth under the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI). 

Kenyans are engaged in a highly divisive debate following a High Court ruling that declared the initiative unconstitutional with the political class deeply mired in 2022 succession politics.  

Going forward, the two debates are certain to test the strength of our nationhood. That is why we call on the political elite to use Madaraka Day to reflect on the country’s journey, the vision of its  founding fathers and their contribution to making it achievable. And as we are constantly reminded, we cannot afford to abandon Project Kenya.