Re: MC slapped at State House Jamhuri function

Published on December 13, 2007, 12:00 am

By Standard Reporter

A presidential awards ceremony at State House, Nairobi, was disrupted after First Lady Lucy Kibaki slapped the master of ceremonies (MC).

The MC, a senior administrative officer at the Office of the President, was quickly removed from the scene by presidential security detail in the incident last night.

President Kibaki, the Vice President, Mr Moody Awori, several Cabinet ministers and members of the diplomatic corps watched in dismay as the drama unfolded.

The MC had started introductions to kick off the ceremony, an annual tradition after the Jamhuri Day festivities, thus: "Your Excellency, Mr President, First Lady Mama Lucy Wambui..."

But before he could continue with the introductions, the First Lady stood up from where she was seated and briskly walked to the MC, whom she slapped across the face.

The ceremony was temporarily disrupted as security took away the shocked public official leaving Head of Civil Service, ambassador Francis Muthaura, to take over.

Meanwhile, State House security grabbed the cameras of the few journalists present and ensured all footage of the incident was erased before returning the equipment.