Nairobi — Kenyans mark Kenyatta Day on Monday, a day set aside for celebrating the sacrifices made by heroes of the Independence struggle.

It is the day we remember our freedom fighters such as Jomo Kenyatta and the five others with whom he was convicted and jailed at Kapenguria.

Without them, Independence from British colonial rule would have taken much longer to attain.

But we are aware that the gains of Independence were quickly squandered as some liberators turned into oppressors and grabbers.

This led to the struggle for the second liberation ably championed by the likes of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, Masinde Muliro, Kenneth Matiba, Charles Rubia and Martin Shikuku, together with a handful of youthful activists like Paul Muite, James Orengo, Raila Odinga, Gitobu Imanyara, Martha Karua and Kiraitu Murungi.

But we also recall that the path to real democracy is always littered with thorns, which is why even the second liberation was hijacked by self-seekers.

Given the struggles of many people to free Kenya from the shackles of colonialism and oppression, it is high time we considered renaming Kenyatta Day Heroes' Day. All our heroes count, and should feel included on this important day.

And this way, no future leaders will fall into the temptation of setting aside days in honour of themselves.