Speech by His Excellency President Uhuru Kenyatta, C.G.H., on Madaraka Day June 1 2017.

Abstract

President Uhuru Kenyatta’s 2017 Madaraka Day speech celebrates Kenya’s hard-won self-governance and honours the sacrifices of Mau Mau freedom fighters, urging citizens to protect national unity and reject divisive politics. He highlights the country’s progress since independence—including increased life expectancy, expanded education, improved healthcare, and greater access to clean water and electricity—while outlining achievements made during his administration such as massive road development, modernized hospitals, expanded electricity connections, irrigation projects to reduce reliance on rain-fed agriculture, and the launch of the Madaraka Express as a transformative symbol of national ambition. The President emphasizes efforts to improve food security, revive key agricultural sectors like coffee, support drought-affected communities, and strengthen economic independence by expanding manufacturing, modernizing ports and airports, and preparing the country for oil production. He also underscores major strides in social protection, including NHIF expansion, maternal health initiatives, and stipends for the elderly, alongside sweeping security reforms to protect the nation from terrorism and crime. Further, he affirms the success of devolution in strengthening democracy and citizen participation, calling for forward-looking politics grounded in unity rather than ethnic division. Concluding, he expresses confidence in Kenya’s potential, urges peaceful elections, and emphasizes the shared responsibility of all Kenyans to safeguard national cohesion and advance the country toward inclusive prosperity.