Mashujaa Day celebrations in Kenya may not be as smooth as years before, noting some of the sentiments raised by locals and leaders alike.
Many questions linger after the ferry accident that left a mother, daughter and saloon car plunged into the Indian Ocean, more than 60 metres deep.
Some local leaders have strongly opposed the planned celebrations of Mashujaa Day in the Coast weeks after the tragedy, with no end in sight of retrieving the bodies.
Others have threatened to lead protests on the day, 20th October, parallel to the Heroes Day celebration in defiance to the incompetence of the Kenya Navy that will grace the occasion.
Kenyans said that the ferry accident has exposed the country to her lack of disaster preparedness on the waters, land and also in the air.
Malindi MP Aisha Jumwa criticised the ongoing preparations of the Mashujaa Day. Speaking in Kandara Constituency in Muranga, MP Aisha told the more than 2,000 people present to stand up in a one-minute silence in honour of the mother and child who died in the ocean.
As a leader from Coast County, MP Aisha said the women in the region should not attend the Mashujaa Day celebrations on October 20 but instead march to the oceanside where the two sank, and mourn in their remembrance.
“We (the women of Mombasa) should march and mourn next to the ocean for the departed mother and child lost in the ocean,” she said. She added that it was extremely painful for Kenyans to watch at how helpless disaster management in the country is weak, 56 years after our independence.
Nakuru Senator Susan Kihika criticised Internal Security PS Karanja Kibicho for updating his social media accounts with information about the Mashujaa day celebrations, devoid of the pain and devastation of the family and Kenyans were going through after they watched as a mother and child sank into the deep oceans.
“I am in a lot of pain. When disaster strikes, the government is caught clueless. Now, we have a mother and her child stuck at the bottom of the ocean.”
“And Kibicho is just busy posting updates on social media on how Kenya Navy is rehearsing in Mombasa for Mashujaa day celebrations. If Kenya was a more sober country, Kibicho would have resigned already. This is nonsense. Nonsense of the highest order!” said Senator Kihika.
Mashujaa Day (Heroes Day) is a public day when Kenyans remember they who fought for their independence and honour them in different ways.
Women in leadership continue to speak strongly about the issues affecting the country and her citizens.
