Re-dedication to the values confirmed at Independence

The past 48 years have been riddled with success and failure; progress and pitfalls. They have, in all truthfulness, been tumultuous. Times of great triumph have been followed by trials and sometimes trouble. As a nation we have had moments of zealous dedication and keen commitment to various national causes, but we have also suffered from moments of dreariness and dogged cynicism. Today, however there is much to celebrate. Today we celebrate the formation and formalization of this nation. We recall, the ideals that led us to that moment in time. The ideals of justice, and equality; the inherent repulsion we had towards the evils of tyranny, the belief that all peoples are entitled to political participation and democratic self-governance. We recall that there was a vision, and a dream that burned so strongly in our hearts, it moved us to stand against the kind of oppression and enslavement that crushes dreams, and cripples even the most noble of men. That this dream was so fiery that is refused to be doused by waves of opposition or broken by the strains of struggle. That this vision was so pervasive and worthwhile, that those who held it, chose not to look upon it with eyes stained by dissolution and smeared by selfishness but rather with eyes focused and intent, that refused to remain diverted from their cause by distraction. Together we must retrace our steps and re-establish that vision that is the soul of national possibilities, opening up a sea of individual and collective dreams, towards a depth that can only be described as the Kenyan Dream. Vision 2030 defines the horizons, but together we must create a galaxy of possibilities above the visible stars, we must jump above the barricades placed on our way with our eyes fixed on the prize of perfection. Today, we also celebrate the freedom of cultural expression (contained only by the consideration of human rights and the desire for integrity); that we have as a nation. We celebrate the diversity of opinion and cultural expression that allows us to maintain a healthy respect for another: that affords us the opportunity to learn how to value humanity, and that allows us to learn from one another appreciating the potential that comes from having different perspectives. We celebrate, also, the achievements that we have made in the last 48 years: the infrastructural development, the economic growth, the global legitimacy

our nation has gained. We celebrate the more recent achievement of voting in, and now, implementing a new constitution and as we do so, let us rededicate ourselves to the zeal and fervor we initially had, insisting that we continue to create a legacy of achieving that which we set out to achieve. Indeed there is much to celebrate, and today, we should celebrate and we will celebrate. But as we do so, as we visit with our families, as we eat with friends, as we gather together as fellow Kenyans and, as we look back on all that has been achieved, Let us also ensure that we do not lose focus: that even as we celebrate; we continue to remain vigilant. Vigilant in remembering those values and ideals that led to independence and vigilant, in remaining committed to those values. Let us consider the past and use it as fuel to counter some crude present realities. Let us remember that while we have achieved national independence, there is a national process of liberation that must be engaged in. A process of realizing the value of the freedom that we attained and a process of ensuring that every citizen is not only aware of that freedom but is impacted by its existence. This process can only be deemed complete, when no citizen is considered to be living in inhumane conditions of servitude. While there are still oppressive and tyrannical forces that force many youth to abdicate their dreams because they cannot find a job; while there is still a lack of economic freedom, where many are hindered from their prospective paths due to financial impediments, while there are still inefficient governmental systems, while the constitution is still on its way to being fully implemented. While there are still harsh realities within our four borders that we cannot tolerate: realities that go against those first values that we 48 years ago, declared were of the utmost importance to us- while all this is still part of our nation- there is still work to be done. There are still battles to be fought and won and there is still some form of independence to be pursued. As we celebrate the primary independence, let us ensure that invest in annually; monthly; weekly pursuing these other liberations with the same vitality with which we pursued the first. Happy Jamhuri Day

UhuruKenyatta
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance