President William Ruto has taken the unusual step of removing several names from the list of national honours awarded during Kenya’s Jamhuri Day celebrations on December 12, 2025. The move came through an official correction published in the Kenya Gazette.
The correction, known as a corrigendum in Gazette Notice No. 18371, fixes errors in the original list. It focuses on the Chief of the Order of the Burning Spear, or C.B.S., category. The notice states that some names were added by mistake and have now been deleted. Any mention of them in the C.B.S. list should be ignored.
The people affected are Mrs Ndungu Joyce Njeri Njoroge, who had been listed for M.B.S., Mr Kiini Sylvester Ngei, also for M.B.S., and several others for O.G.W. or similar lower awards. The full list includes Mr Owino Harrison Ochieng (O.G.W.), Mr Kirui Kipkemoi Arap (O.G.W.), Mr Chemweno Peter Kipsang (O.G.W.), Mr Mogere Zakayo Izanta (O.G.W.), Mr Sitima Allan Mukoto (O.G.W.), Ms Akama Vane Nyaboke (O.G.W.), Dr Buchere Philip Brightone (posthumous, O.G.W.), and Ms Odera Millicent Anyango (H.S.C.).
President Ruto signed this corrigendum on December 11, 2025, acting in his role as Chancellor of the Orders. Some reports suggest this might involve reclassifying some recipients to different award levels, like moving them to Moran of the Burning Spear or Order of the Grand Warrior. But the official notice clearly says the names were included in error and are now removed from the C.B.S. section.
This announcement comes just days after the main event. On Jamhuri Day, held at Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi, Ruto presented honours to 881 Kenyans. These recognitions went to people from all walks of life, including public servants, security officers, leaders, business people, and community workers.
The highest awards, under the Order of the Golden Heart of Kenya, went to nine individuals. That included Attorney General Dorcas Oduor and Kristina Pratt, sister of former President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Other notable recipients got the Elder of the Golden Heart, or E.G.H. Cabinet secretaries like William Kabogo in ICT, Lee Kinyanjui in Trade, and Deborah Barasa in Environment were among them. Narok Governor Patrick Ole Ntutu also received one. Military leaders, such as the Kenya Army and Air Force commanders, picked up high honours too. Sports stars like Olympic champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi and others in athletics and football got recognition as well.
Jamhuri Day marks Kenya’s independence in 1963 and becoming a republic in 1964. It’s a big national holiday with parades, speeches, and these awards. The president uses it to thank people for their service to the country. Nominations come from the public and go through a committee before the final list.
Corrections like this are not common, but they happen when mistakes slip into official gazettes. Sometimes names get added wrongly during the compilation process. The government makes these fixes to keep the records accurate. In this case, it happened quickly after the celebrations.
For many Kenyans, the honours are a point of pride. Receiving one means official thanks for years of work. When errors occur and names are pulled, it can raise questions. But the notice makes it clear this was due to mistakes, not any change in who deserves recognition.
The full original list and this correction are public in the Kenya Gazette. Anyone can check them online or in print. As the year ends, this small adjustment wraps up the 2025 Jamhuri Day awards process. The focus now shifts back to the many who did receive their honours without issue. Kenya continues to use these awards to highlight contributions from ordinary and prominent citizens alike. It’s part of building national unity and appreciating service.
