“…I’m tired…I want the young people to continue. If you all permit, I will hand over to David to act as president until the next election…,” Julia Dudley addressed the cheering crowd. This year’s Madaraka Day was overshadowed by the retirement of the passionate Julia Betty Dudley, former president of the Association of Kenyans in Alberta (AKA). The full house, 56th Madaraka Day celebration took place on June 8, 2019, at the Londonderry Community League Hall, full with inspiring speeches, the award of certificates to volunteers in the community, entertainment, and a delicious dinner.
“…which ever side of the political divide I find myself in, I will keep fighting for you…,” MLA David Shepherd, MLA for Edmonton-Centre, now turn opposition MLA, addressed the excited crowd, who called him one of their own.
Madaraka Day is a national holiday celebrated every 1st June of every year in the Republic of Kenya. It commemorates the day in 1963 that Kenya attained independent self-governance after decades as a British colony. Madaraka is a Swahili word for “freedom, independence”.
