Coincidence or fate? Rerun to be held on Uhuru’s birthday

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has now slated the fresh presidential election ordered by the Supreme Court for October 26.

For those who do not know the day also happens to be President Uhuru Kenyatta’s birthday. So as Kenyans will be trooping to the polling stations cast their votes, he would be marking his 56th birthday.

The President was born on October 26, 1961 to founding President Mzee Jomo Kenyatta and First Lady Mama Ngina Kenyatta.

While some think it is just a coincidence, others aver it could be a work of fate and that Uhuru will either become the first Kenyan President to win a second term after a rerun ordered by the Supreme Court or the first to serve for only one term. If defeated, he will also make history as the first Kenyan President to leave office before turning 60 years.

The elections will also be held six days after Kenyans mark Mashujaa (Heroes) Day, which collectively honours all those who contributed towards the struggle for Kenya’s independence or positively contributed in the post-independence Kenya.

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Among key world leaders President Uhuru shares a birthday with are former US First Lady Hillary Clinton (1947), Bolivian President Evo Morales (1959), first African American Senator Edward W. Brooke (1919), the 21st President of France Francois Mitterrand (1916) and former Brazilian President Washington Luís Pereira de Sousa (1869).

It was also on this day that Winston Churchill became the prime minister of Great Britain.