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Janet Mbugua questions meaning of Madaraka Day amid missing children crisis
01st June, 2026 10:13 PM
Media personality Janet Mbugua has questioned the meaning of Madaraka Day amid growing concern over missing women and children in the country.
As Kenyans marked the national holiday on June 1, 2026, the media personality said many families were still waiting for freedom to have a different meaning in their lives.
The government held Madaraka Day celebrations in Wajir to mark 63 years of self-rule. However, Janet said she spent the day in the streets remembering those who have gone missing and those who are yet to be found.
“While the government celebrated 63 years of self-rule in Wajir, we were in the streets with coffins for the women stolen from us, toys for the children we are still searching for and tears we have been carrying for too long,” Janet Mbugua said.
She explained that the day carried a different meaning for those affected by cases of missing women and children. According to her, many people are still carrying pain and unanswered questions as they continue to seek justice and answers.
“Madaraka is supposed to mean freedom. We are still waiting for it to mean that for everyone,” Janet Mbugua said.
Concerns over missing children
Janet also revealed that those who took part in the demonstration presented a list of demands. She said the demands would be shared later and would also be available online.
“We also showed up with demands. I’ll share those soon; meanwhile, you’ll be able to find them online later today,” Janet Mbugua said.
The remarks come days after Janet raised concerns about the growing issue of missing children in the country. She had shared an emotional message reflecting on child safety and public concern over how such cases are handled.
The media personality explained that recent discussions about missing children had left her thinking about deeper issues affecting society. She said there appeared to be larger concerns underneath the conversation.
“As the country continues to grapple with fuel hikes, our collective frustration and broader questions around safety in our society, I’m still sitting with some of the comments that came up from the conversation on #missingchildren, because there seems to be something much bigger underneath it,” Janet Mbugua said.
