Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho's decision to invite former Prime Minister Raila Odinga to address the function during Mashujaa Day was a breach of protocol.
In the itinerary, the governor was supposed to make a brief address and handover to Deputy President William Ruto, who was also in attendance.
A top aide to Ruto, who spoke in confidence, says Joho should have asked Ruto to recognize Mr Odinga instead.
"That was breach of protocol. If someone isn't on the itinerary, it's the DP who should recognise him or her if necessary and not the governor," he said.
Joho asked 'permission' from Uhuru to allow Mr Odinga speak. Mr Odinga revisited the Likoni channel tragedy, arguing that he asked KPA to stop dredging as a Kenyan.
"There are those who have been asking that why I gave the orders. I gave the order as a Kenyan," Odinga said, while paying tributes to the deceased.
Also, Joho asked Ruto to support Building Bridges Initiative report. In his address, he never referred to Ruto as 'His Excellency' but stuck to his official name.
President Uhuru Kenyatta hailed people from all multidisciplines for their roles in uplifting the country. He hailed journalists who report objectively.
"A shujaa does not pick soft but wrong options. They are the judges and magistrates, who faithfully and expeditiously discharge their oath of office without cowering in the face of the power and ill-gotten wealth of corruption suspects.
"I honour and commend all the journalists who play their proper role as the Fourth Estate, reporting fearlessly by speaking truth to power while rejecting brown-envelope journalism and the allure of sensationalism," he said.