Low turnout, outcry over rising insecurity, and calls for political tolerance highlighted this year’s Madaraka Day celebrations in the 47 counties across the country.

A spot check established that most Kenyans and elected leaders, including a section of the governors, gave the celebration a wide berth.

In Mombasa, County Commissioner Mohamed Nur announced the arrest of nine suspects from gangs targeting bank customers after cash withdrawals.

Addressing members of the public at Joho Stadium in Mombasa during the Makadara Day celebration, Nur said that eight vehicles used by the gangs have also been impounded.

He said that those arrested revealed they colluded with dishonest bank employees who provided them information about clients making large withdrawals.

“Some of these people have been operating in the financial institutions, and whenever a bank’s customers had left the bank with their money, they were followed by the criminal gangs to where they had parked their vehicles,” said Nur.

Nur appealed to various people who had fallen victim to the gang to go and report to the police stations in the town and Mwatapa and record statements. Governor Abdulswamand Nassir did not attend the celebrations.

“We have also seized substantial amounts of money from these people who have been living luxurious lives in Mombasa town and Mtwapa in Kilifi,” said Nur.

In Narok, tensions escalated during the fete due to recent controversial remarks made by Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot during his visit to Narok East.

Governor Ntutu fired back during the Madaraka Day fete, asking Cheruiyot to stay out of Narok politics.

“How can you come from Kericho to Narok to call me a ‘makanga’? I am asking him to keep off Narok politics,” Ntutu said.

Emurua Dikirr MP Johana Ngeno cautioned the senator to respect elected leadership in Narok.

“There are elected leaders in Narok. Cheruiyot should respect that leadership and wait for the right time to engage in politics,” Ngeno stated.

In Kericho, the event was held at Kericho Green Stadium with only a handful of people.

Governor Erick Mutai was absent. The County Commissioner Gilbert Kitiyo and Deputy Governor Engineer Fredrick Kirui left to lead the celebrations.

In Trans Nzoia County, the event at Lessos Primary School was characterised by empty tents and chairs. Despite 32 tents being pitched and 24 fully furnished with chairs, only a handful of people, mostly schoolchildren, turned up for the national holiday celebrations.

County Commissioner Gideon Oyagi was forced to deliver the president’s speech without a functioning public address system.

“We must put an end to careless rhetoric that divides our communities. Let us choose dialogue and peacebuilding over discord,” said Oyagi in his speech.

In Nyandarua County, Governor Kiarie Badilisha and county commissioner Abdirisack Jaldesa vowed not to allow illegal brewing and distribution of illegal brews in the county.

Badilisha regretted that the county had over 200 liquor joints compared to 700 schools.

“This is a matter of great concern. We have to reduce this number by half. I have directed my officers not to license any more bars until we conclude,” he noted.

In Nakuru, Governor Susan Kihika announced the distribution of 7,857,156 pyrethrum seedlings to farmers and allocated Sh20,449,850 to enhance the avocado value chain through the provision of seedlings.

She said that at least 19,096 avocado seedlings have also been distributed to 9,548 farmers to make agriculture the top income earner for the people of Nakuru.

“I am happy to report that we are now the leading county in potato production in Kenya, having produced 657,091 tonnes of the crop last year,” she said.

She said the county has introduced subsidized artificial insemination, which has benefited 23 cooperatives so far. A total of 1,366 inseminations have been performed.

Ms Kihika said the construction of 18 ultra-modern markets with cold rooms for storage, lactation rooms for breastfeeding mothers, ICT hubs, eateries, and social halls was going on.

In Kakamega, Governor Fernandes Barasa, who led the Madaraka Day celebration in Malava Constituency, urged leaders to unite the country under the broad-based government.

Barasa urged residents to register with the Social Health Authority (SHA) for free quality healthcare, stating that initial launch issues have been resolved.

“I want to urge my people to come out in large numbers and register for SHA because it is the only way that our people will get quality healthcare services,” said Barasa.

Malava MP Oscar Nabulindo said the alleged abduction of Juja MP George Koimburi risks plunging the country into anarchy if he indeed stage-managed his abduction.

“This drama not only poses security threats but risks taking our country into anarchy,” said Nabulindo.

In Taita Taveta, Governor Andrew Mwadime did not attend the fete, but in his speech, he criticised the national government for delaying the disbursement of shareable revenue to counties.

In his speech read on his behalf by his deputy, Christine Kilalo, Mwadime said local health facilities have no adequate drugs because the county government is yet to clear pending bills.

Local elected leaders, however, skipped the function held at Wundanyi Dawson Mwanyumba Stadium.

Area County Commissioner Josephine Onunga said cases of sexual gender-based violence (GBV) have become prevalent in the county. Last year there were 157 cases, she said.

Onunga told the public that GBV cases have been compounded by the widespread sale and consumption of illicit brews like Pasha and Mbangara, among other counterfeit brews and drugs.

Wills Oketch, Renson Mnyamwezi, Benard Lusigi, James Munyeki and Martin Ndiema