MERU (Prime Africa ) – Former Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza has ignited a storm of debate after declaring on her Facebook page that there is “no Happy Jamhuri Day” for Merians or Kenyans, arguing that the country has little to celebrate amid deep-rooted socio-economic challenges.
Speaking to Prime Africa News in a phone interview, Mwangaza said the spirit of Jamhuri Day feels hollow when the very communities that fought for Kenya’s independence continue to live in deplorable conditions.
She pointed to long-standing land injustices, saying many freedom fighters’ descendants in Meru are still living as squatters in Machaka slums in Buuri Constituency.
“How do we celebrate independence when the people of Meru who fought for it are still squatters?” she posed.
Mwangaza further cited insecurity in parts of Tigania, Igembe and Buuri, where recurrent cattle rustling has left residents living in fear, stifling both economic activity and social stability.
She criticized the state of healthcare in Meru, claiming county hospitals lack essential medication, a situation she said continues to undermine public trust in devolved units and national systems.
“There cannot be a Happy Jamhuri when our county hospitals lack proper medication,” she said. “These are precolonial problems—poverty, squatter settlements, weak education systems, and the high cost of living. How do we celebrate under such conditions?”
Her remarks triggered mixed reactions online, with some Kenyans applauding her boldness while others accused her of politicizing a national holiday.
Despite the heated debate, Jamhuri Day celebrations in Meru County went on as planned at Shabaha Stadium in Nkubu, Imenti South, where national and local leaders led residents in marking Kenya’s 62nd year of independence.
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