Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has broken silence after missing out on the final list of the Jamhuri Day national awards.
In a statement after the holiday celebrations, Sifuna took to his X account to express his thoughts about the list of awardees published on December 12.
He affirmed his respect for the decision by President William Ruto to leave him out of the national awards lists.
In addition, the legislator thanked Parliament for nominating his name for consideration in the awards and congratulated colleagues who made it to the list.
However, the Senator and Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Party Secretary General alluded to possible disrespect from the President, stating that he always suspected that, “the disdain was mutual”.
“I respect Ruto’s decision denying me the national honors I had been nominated for,” he stated.
“I always suspected the disdain was mutual. I thank Parliament for the nomination though. And to all those who made it to the list, congratulations!” he added in the statement accompanied by three laughing emojis.
Sifuna was among the 36 individuals nominated to receive the Chief of the Order of the Burning Spear (CBS) award.
Elder of the Golden Heart Award Recipients
Meanwhile in the awards, Cabinet Secretaries and high-ranking Members of Parliament dominated the list of Kenyans selected for the Elder of the Golden Heart (EGH) award.
In the list unveiled after the Jamhuri Day celebrations on December 12, President William Ruto awarded- among others, Energy Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir, Head of Public Service Felix Koskei, and Leader of Majority Kimani Ichung’wah.
Additionally, the President conferred the EGH title to Trade Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano, Zachary Njeru (Water and Irrigation), Soipan Tuya (Environment), and Susan Nakhumicha (Health.
Also on the list of awardees are Leader of Majority in the Senate Aaron Cheruyoit, Minority Leader in the National Assembly Opiyo Wandayi, and his Senate counterpart Stewart Madzayo.
Kenyan athlete Faith Kipyegon also made it to the list with the President singling her out in his speech at the Uhuru Gardens.
Other notable names in the EGH awardees list are Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire and Agriculture CS Mithika Linturi.
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Sifuna Misses CBS List
For the CBS, the President awarded Immigration and Citizen Registration services Julius Bitok, ICT PS Edward Kising’ani, Livestock PS Jonathan Mueke, and Foreign Affairs PS Korir Sing’oei.
Also in the list is Justice Ngenye Grace Wangui and Turkana West MP Nanok Daniel Epuyo.
Also Read: Ruto Honors Faith Kipyegon with Special Award
Others were Webuye West MP Sitati Daniel Wanyama, Samburu Senator Lelegwe Steve Ltumbesi, Garissa Senator Haji Abdulkadir Mohammed and West Pokot Senator Murgor Julius Rocha.
Besides, Homabay Senator Moses Kajwanga, Homabay Town MP Peter Opondo Kaluma, Westlands MP Timothy Wanyonyi, Endebess MP Satia Robert Pukse and Emuhaya Constituency MP Omboko Jeremiah Milemba also received the CBS honors.
