Nyali MP and former journalist Mohammed Ali has called on organisers of the 2024 Jamhuri Day celebrations to honour artistes who performed during the fete.

In a statement on Thursday, December 12, 2024, Ali hailed the organisers for having purely Kenyan artistes perform during the event held at Uhuru Gardens in Nairobi.

“Congrats to the organizers of today’s Jamhuri day event. To the promoters buy kenya jenga kenya music. Free our local musicians, pay them well. Leo hao wasanii walipwe vizuri. Salute!” Ali stated.

Speaking during the event, Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja promised that the county would rename some of its roads after legendary artistes to honour their works. For a start, Sakaja said that one of the roads in South “C” would be renamed after legendary artiste E-sir.

“We shall be renaming some of our roads after some of our artistes,” Sakaja stated.

Legendary artistes

During the event, legendary artistes were lined up for special performances including Esther Wahome, Daddy Owen, Mejja, Jua Cali and Jaguar.

However, modern-generation artistes were conspicuously missing during the performance, with the government opting to line up old-generation artistes.

Jamhuri Day, celebrated on December 12 every year, marks the day Kenya became a republic following the country’s independence from British colonial rule.

On this day, Kenya also celebrates the adoption of its first constitution, which gave the country its full self-governance.