Kisumu woman rep
Ruth Odinga and nominated senators Catherine Muma and Miraj Abdillahi in Bondo
on October 18, 2025/ BRIAN OTIENO
Little known people who contribute significantly to Kenya's well-being should also be honoured, nominated Senator Miraj Abdillahi has said.
She said
people like farmers help feed the nation but are rarely recognised unlike
in some countries where they are given privileges.
The County Hall of
Fame Bill, 2025 seeks to preserve history and honour those who have done extraordinary
things but do not have the platform to be seen.
“There are many
people who have been playing a vital role in the community but because they are
not famous, they go unrecognised. This needs to come to a stop,” the senator said.
She said those honoured during Mashujaa Day celebrations are mostly politicians,
academicians and tycoons.
Under her bill, all 47 counties will get opportunities to honour their own people
according to how they lived with them.
“They will be able
to preserve their cultures and heritage, from their foods to their dressing,
language and dances, to suit their own unique counties,” she said.
The bill proposes a
committee to vet nominees for the Hall of Fame recognition
and inscription.
Miraj said the
bill will prevent politicians from influencing the nomination of their cronies
who might not have made any significant contribution to the community.
She got the concept from one of her trips abroad where in one country, the
devolved units honour their own, giving them privileges that other national
leaders would get.
“In one of the
countries I visited, they honour their farmers because they are the ones that
feed them. They get privileges like not queuing in airports or in bus termini,
yet they are relatively unknown outside their devolved units,” the legislator said.
This, she said, can
be replicated in Kenya to encourage ordinary people to give their
all in all they do.
She noted that some
of those who have been recognised for their perceived philanthropy in Kenya
have been discovered to be getting their wealth through dubious means.
The bill
proposes that such people can be removed from the Hall of Fame once there
dirty sides come to light.
She spoke of the need to erect statues of people with the most significant
contributions to the society.
“Most of our Hall
of Fame honorees are politicians. There are things that have been done by
non-politicians that have significantly helped our counties and country but
these are not recognised because our country is very political,” she said.
Senator Miraji said she is happy she celebrated Raila when he
was still alive.
Senator Miraj said
Raila saved the country many times including the latest in 2024 when Kenya was tittering towards anarchy.
She described Raila as one of the greatest sons of Kenya.
“I am grateful I
gave him his flowers while he was still alive and I would like that to be the
norm in Kenya instead of waiting for someone to pass to give them their
flowers.
She acknowledged
she was not one of Raila's followers or supporters but recognised him as a
statesman who contributed much to the Kenya people enjoy today.
