KDF Museum Airshow in Nairobi to be Held Ahead of Madaraka Day

In conjunction with Aero club, the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) will hold a museum Airshow this Saturday, May 28 2022, at Uhuru Gardens along Lang’ata Road in Nairobi.

The airshow will engage and entertain the public by boasting displays of military and civilian aerobatic capabilities. It will bring together various participants, including Phoenix Aviation Cessna Sovereign, Kenya Airways Embraer 190 fly-past, Farmland Aviation firefighting display, and aerobatics by Mark Hensman from South Africa.

“You are all invited to witness this spectacular show of scintillating aerobatics by Kenya Air Force jets and extreme manoeuvres by various helicopters in their inventory. The Kenya Wildlife Services will also display anti-poaching drills.” KDF said in a statement.

The airshow will be held ahead of Madaraka day celebrations which will be held on Wednesday, June 1 2022, at Uhuru Gardens Nairobi.

Early this month, the Interior Ministry Principal Secretary, Karanja Kibicho, announced resumptions of national celebrations in all counties in the country after a nine-month ban due to the covid 19 pandemic.

According to the PS, this year’s Madaraka day celebrations will be held in Nairobi, unlike the previous years where the celebrations were conducted in different counties across the country since it would be the last national celebrations presided by President Uhuru Kenyatta. He is set to leave office after the August 9 elections.

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“This year’s Madaraka Day is significant because it will be the last for this regime. We decided it would be celebrated here, breaking the tradition of celebrating it in the counties,” PS Kibicho said.

Following reduced Covid-19 cases, at least 30,000 Kenyans will be allowed into the grounds compared to last December, when only 10,000 people were allowed in Jamhuri Day celebrations held at the same venue. Children will also be allowed to attend.

Madaraka Day (“Internal self-rule” or Self-Governance Day) is a national holiday celebrated every June 1 of every year in the Republic of Kenya. It commemorates the day in 1963 when Kenya attained internal self-rule after being a British colony since 1920.

During the day, Kenyans gather together in designated venues for the event, which features military parades, singing and dancing. The president then addresses the nation on the struggle for freedom in the country while touching on other issues affecting the country. National flags are usually flown on all public grounds.