The Republic of Kenya celebrated 50 years of independence from Britain on December 12, 2013.
As part of the celebrations for 50 years of independence, some users on Twitter started the hashtag #Kenyaat50 to discuss their feelings during these important celebrations:
@GdnDevelopment: A mingled yarn of good and bad:#KenyaAt50 in pictures http://gu.com/p/3y4qn/tw pic.twitter.com/1HWSWsGWSd
A mingled yarn of good and bad: #KenyaAt50 in pictures
Kenyans compared some of the speeches of the 3 previous Kenyan Presidents with the current 4th President and were dissapointed that they all promised to fight hunger, which they did not:
@marcusolang: “50 years on, still hungry.” Discuss.#KenyaAt50 pic.twitter.com/juzrwnlroq
- “50 years on, still hungry.” Discuss. #KenyaAt50 pic.twitter.com/juzrwnlroq
Kenyans also used the ocassion to remind themselves of modes of transportation that have exsisted in the Country since Independence:
@KResearcher: Stagecoach had 20 of these double decker buses#KenyanHistory#KenyaAt50 pic.twitter.com/R7Wb4WTMxQ
Stagecoach had 20 of these double decker buses #KenyanHistory #KenyaAt50 pic.twitter.com/R7Wb4WTMxQ
Some Kenyans were however not happy that the government spend 500 Million Kenya Shillings (5.8 Million USD) for that single day:
@SokoAnalyst: If you agree that the 50 year celebrations at Kasarani are a sham, not worth 500M please Rt this.
#KenyaAt50
The Kenyan Independence Day celebrations coincided with a football match between Kenya and Sudan, where the match was delayed as the Sudan Team was detained at their hotel over unpaid hotel bills. Kenyans used #IccDerby to remind themselves that both Kenyan and Sudan Political Leadership had ongoing cases at the International Criminal Court (ICC):
@Abdidi: “
@KTNKenya: Update:#Sudan national team which is to play Kenya in the CECAFA finals this evening is being detained in a Hotel”#ICCDerby
@mhqlay: Damn!
#ICCDerby — Kenya vs Sudan — kick off time moved to 6pm, says CECAFA sec gen, Musonye who adds that he’s used to hearing rumours
@nickkiriinya: Sudanese players smeared with tar on face as part of#iccderby witness protection…@willisraburu is gonna expose u though
Kenya won the football match but some Kenyans could only attribute it to the detaining of the Sudan Players:
@RobstarKaris: The#ICCderby taught us a lesson, if you want Harambee Stars to win a match, lock the opponent in a hotel for 24hrs#KenyaAt50
Some Kenyans also reflected on the challenges that Kenya faces despite the 50 years of Independence Celebrations:
@marcusolang: (while quoting Willy Mutunga, Kenya’s Chief Justice and President of the Supreme Court) “[We live in a country where] criminals command a disproportionate voice and space.” – Willy Mutunga.
#KenyaAt50
@marcusolang: (while quoting Willy Mutunga, Kenya’s Chief Justice and President of the Supreme Court) “[There is a] grotesque inversion of values where truth is subverted & evidence is gutted at the slightest hint of inconvenience.” – Mutunga
@marcusolang: (while quoting Willy Mutunga, Kenya’s Chief Justice and President of the Supreme Court) “Heroes and heroines become villains, those who do right are made to play defence rather than offence.” – Willy Mutunga.
#KenyaAt50
KTN Kenya analyzed the degenerating challenges facing kenya 50 years after Independence through their Youtube channel:
[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIrcbq9NgM4]
A deadly terrorist attack occurred in the evening of 12th December, 2013 after the Independence Day Celebrations:
@sickolia_: The Afterparty for
#KenyaAt50 is a Grenade attack. Smfh!
@Izaika:
@sickolia_ the cops were busy celebrating#KenyaAt50 and protecting the bigwigs the forgot about#wanjiku [common citizens]
@M_Thaus:@sickolia_@Izaika Its not that they forgot, they didnt care
Unfortunately the Terrorist attack was planned as the medical workers were on strike over salary matters. Kenyans used the hashtag #Sickat50 to express their displeasure at the state of affairs in the health Sector:
@bonifacemwangi: Is the president aware doctors are on strike? I hope he will mention a solution on his speech.
#Sickat50
@SokoAnalyst:
#SickAt50#StupidAt50#DupedAt50 but still#MyKenya. That means its up to me to do my part for a better Kenya.
Some Kenyans decided to ignore all the negative news going on in Kenya at blogged about positive memories from their childhood:
Elizabeth blogged Kenya@50: 50 things that say you grew up in Kenya:
- When you were a kid, Christmas meant new clothes, chapatis and cousins. Who the hell cared about a Christmas tree?
3. Your mum, at one point, bought your school uniform(s) a size bigger so that you would grow into it.
7. You’ve called a house help “Auntie” and a guard/watchman “Soldier” or “Boss” at some point.
26. You’re registered for M-Pesa or some other mobile money transfer service.
39. You dutifully go to church every Sunday believing that you have been cleansed for another week of debauchery.
48. You call a swimsuit a “swimming costume”.