KENYAN PUBLIC HOLIDAYS - MADARAKA DAY 2013

It seemed that Kenyans have a lot of public holidays, but after looking it up on line they seem to have around the same amount that Australians do.  I think it just seems more as there was a public holiday declared for the Election 2013 and then a public holiday was declared when the results were released 12 days later, throw in Easter, a Bank holiday and I think there was another day in there somewhere as well.  As I am not working, public holidays don’t mean as much to me now as they used to when I was a ‘worker’.  It seems my whole life actually is one big, long public holiday and after nearly 5 months in Kenya, I have to say I am still loving my life here. 

So today is the 1^st of June and it warrants another public holiday.  This one seems to have a lot of history behind it, so I wanted to share what Madaraka Day is and what it means to the Kenyans.  Not only was it a Saturday, but for people that are paid monthly-they were paid yesterday and throw in the public holiday it was one hell of a busy day at the shops and also on the roads!

Madaraka Day, 1 June, commemorates the day that Kenya attained internal self-rule in 1963, preceding full independence from the United Kingdom on 12 December 1963.  The Republic of Kenya, on the eastern coast of Africa, is surrounded by Somalia, Ethiopia, Sudan, Uganda, and Tanzania. In the mid-1800s, British settlers arrived in East Africa. They eventually established the East African Protectorate in 1895, which promoted European settlement in some of the most fertile parts of Kenya, forcing the native Kenyans from their land. In some areas, especially in the arid northern half of the country, there were few British settlers.

Even before Kenya was officially made a British colony in 1920, European settlers were allowed to participate in government. However, Africans were prohibited from direct political participation until 1944, at which time a few appointed (but not elected) African representatives were allowed to sit in the legislature.  Between 1952 and 1959, Kenyans began to rebel against British colonial rule and its land policies. This rebellion took place almost exclusively in the highlands of central Kenya, which were home to the Kikuyu people. Detention camps and restricted villages were established to contain the Kikuyu insurgents. Tens of thousands of Kikuyu died in these areas and in the fighting, compared to approximately 650 British deaths.  Following the rebellions, Africans were given many more opportunities to participate in politics. The first elections to elect Africans to the Legislative Council took place in 1957. On June 1, 1963, Kenya became a self-governing country when Jomo Kenyatta, an ethnic Kikuyu and head of the Kenya African National Union (KANU), became the first prime minister. On December 12, 1963, Kenya became an independent nation.

One year later, on December 12, 1964, Kenya became a republic, with Kenyatta serving as the president. Kenyans honour their first president by celebrating Kenyatta Day every year on October 20.  June 1 is a public holiday in Kenya. The day is set aside to commemorate the day that Kenya became a self-ruling nation. On this day, the main event takes place at Nyayo Stadium in Nairobi. The President addresses the nation, and the uniformed military, singers, and traditional dancers from around the country provide entertainment for the crowds.  The day is full of festive activities, including family picnics and games in the public parks. Many people take this opportunity to go back to their hometowns for the occasion, and often a big meal of goat or chicken is prepared for the special day. Retail business in Nairobi is slower on this day, while public transportation to up-country areas is heavier than normal.

Madaraka Day, like Mashujaa Day, affords Kenyans the opportunity to celebrate Independence and modern-day heroes and heroines who have brought pride and joy to our beloved country. However, it should also be an occasion to encourage every-day heroism among citizens. As John F Kennedy put it to his generation: Ask not what your country can do for you, but instead ask what you can do for your country.  Encouraging and rewarding this kind of attitude to nation building will create a new breed of heroes that could transform the country radically.

So the hand in hand public holiday with Madaraka Day is Jamhuri Day, also called Independence Day, is also a national holiday in Kenya, celebrated on 12 December each year.  Jamhuri is the Swahili word for "republic" and the holiday is officially to mark the date of Kenya's establishment as a republic on 12 December, 1964 and is one of the most important national holidays in Kenya.  However, the country also gained full independence from the United Kingdom one year earlier on 12 December, 1963, so Jamhuri Day is a double event and is generally regarded as Kenya's most important holiday, marked by numerous cultural festivities which celebrate the country's cultural heritage. 

My 'real' public holiday was spent catching up with Laura on Saturday afternoon and ended with a sleepover.  Her boyfriend was away and we sat and drank wine all afternoon and then Laura cooked my most favourite meal of all time-Bangers and Mash.  It has been awhile since we have seen each other and there was a lot of catching up we had to do with us finally getting to bed at 2am, having consumed 2.5 bottles of wine.  This wine drinking seems to have become a fast growing important past time and consuming on a public holiday made it feel a little like what we do back in Australia!    

No matter what country you are in, there are public holidays for all sorts of reasons, historic and religious and Kenya is no different.  I am finding it interesting the more I learn about my new country and my home and I look forward to learning more and more about the people and their culture and history.

Happy Madaraka Day.