Harry Richie’s Vaida electrifies Labour Day fete in Vihiga as leaders break into dance

Vaida, performed in the Olunyore dialect, has enjoyed widespread popularity since its 2022 release.

The 61st Labour Day celebrations at Chavakali High School in Vihiga county unfolded with the usual weight of national significance, but for a few, electric minutes defined the occasion.

What began as a formal state function quickly melted into a vibrant cultural spectacle when music took centre stage and swept leaders and wananchi alike into a shared rhythm of celebration.

At the heart of the day’s agenda were workers’ rights, employment conditions and the rising cost of living, with Cotu secretary general Francis Atwoli expected to anchor labour concerns.

But before the speeches and policy pronouncements, the stage belonged to music — and one performance, in particular, transformed the mood entirely.

When Harry Richie stepped onto the stage to perform his viral Luhya hit Vaida, a wave of recognition rippled through the crowd, transforming the atmosphere.

The singer, flanked by his energetic backup vocalists, needed little time to command attention. The performance built steadily, drawing cheers, whistles and animated reactions from every corner of the venue.

As the chorus rang out—“Vaida Omwana Inyanya, Omwana mabele, Omwana Idumbu”—the grounds erupted. It was the spark that ignited the moment.

Leaders comprising President William Ruto, Atwoli and other top leaders, including Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, Vihiga Governor Wilbur Ottichilo and National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula, rose to their feet in a rare break from protocol.

Ruto himself set the pace, swaying to the rhythm, drawing in Atwoli, Mudavadi, Ottichilo and Wetang’ula into an impromptu dance.

The leaders moved in sync with the beat, some fully immersed, while Richie’s band amplified the energy.

Cheers rippled across the crowd as workers, dignitaries and performers became part of a single, pulsating performance.

Though brief, it was a show-stopping interlude that underscored the unifying power of music and its ability to dissolve hierarchy and unite people across status and station.

Vaida, performed in the Olunyore dialect, has enjoyed widespread popularity since its 2022 release, particularly on TikTok and other social platforms.

By the time the final notes faded, the crowd was still buzzing, a clear sign that the performance had struck a chord far beyond entertainment.

Beneath its catchy rhythm lies a message that resonates deeply with many workers: a call for patience, fidelity and endurance in long-distance relationships, with the promise of better days ahead.

The message of perseverance through hardship seemed fitting for Labour Day, a celebration rooted in the struggles and aspirations of workers.

The decision to host the national event in Vihiga county marked a historic first. It reflects the government’s push to decentralise such celebrations, taking them closer to the people they are meant to honour.

And if the scenes at Chavakali High School are anything to go by, the move is already paying off.