Kenya celebrated the tenth anniversary of Madaraka Day, when the country won internal self-government, on Thursday (June 1) with thousands of people thronging Nairobi's Ururu Park for a march and fly-past, sporting events and garden parties.

At a rally in the park, President Jome Kenyatta, who become the country's first Prime Minister, told the crowds he had been advised not to attend because of threats to kill him.

Taking part in the march-past were detachments of the Kenya Armed Forces, Police and Prisons Services, the National Youth Service and several civilian organisations.

The day-long festivities also included traditional and cultural tribal dances.

SYNOPSIS: Thousands of Kenyans celebrated the tenth anniversary of internal self-government on Thursday. Mrs Jome Kenyatta, the wife of the President, was among the crowds marking the occasion. So was the Foreign Minister, Doctor Mungai and his wife.

The anniversary is known as Madaraka Day. President Kenyatta arrived to watch a military and civilian march-past. Later, he told the crowds he'd been advised not to attend because of threats to kill him. But he said he was not afraid to die and warned these trying to undermine the efforts of his government that they were being watched. President Kenyatta was the country's first Prime Minister.

The march-past included detachments of Kenya police, the armed forces, and the National Youth Service. Later, in speeches making the occasion, President Kenyatta was praised for the struggle he waged to achieve autonomy... without which, the crowds were told, Kenya would have become another nation of apartheid.

The air force and navy were also represented in the march-past, which was followed by an airforce fly-past.

One of the highlights of the day was the tribal dancing -- an event staged in several of the festivities held throughout the country.