As President Uhuru Kenyatta led Kenyans in marking Mashujaa Day at Wang’uru Stadium in Kirinyaga, Kenyan-Mexican actress Lupita Nyong’o also took time to honour a national hero, the late Agnes Tirop.
Tirop, who represented the country in the 5000m race during the Tokyo Olympics, was found dead a week ago at her house in Iten, Elgeyo Marakwet County.
Lupita reflected on Tirop’s triumph during the world games and sent her condolences to the deceased’s family.
“On this #MashujaaDay, I’m honoring Agnes Tirop. Just months ago, we celebrated Agnes as she represented Kenya at the Olympics.
“Now, we tragically mourn her utterly senseless death. Sending my deep condolences, love and strength to her loved ones,” wrote the Black Panther actress.
Tirop’s husband, Ibrahim Rotich, a suspect in her killing, was arrested last week in Mombasa as he was attempting to flee the country.
The DCI said that he would be arraigned to answer murder charges.
National heroes
During his speech on Wednesday, President Kenyatta noted that Mashujaa Day is a special day set aside to celebrate all men and women who laid the foundation stones of the country as well as Kenyans who made and continue to make extraordinary contributions to Kenya’s prosperity.
“Like heroes of faith in the Holy Scriptures, some of those men and women died without beholding our free land or realizing their promise.
“However, they are immortal, as they will forever live on in the pillars of the strong and free nation that they built; and in the hearts of eternally grateful generations of Kenyans who followed from them,” said the President.
Adding: “Mashujaa Day is their day; and it is also our day to remember them, to celebrate them and renew our commitment to the values upon which our beloved nation was founded.
BY THE STANDARD MEDIA
