The government has confirmed that the newly upgraded Raila Odinga Stadium in Homa Bay County will host the 2025 Madaraka Day celebrations, with Interior Principal Secretary Dr. Raymond Omollo assuring Kenyans of the facility’s readiness for the national event.
Dr. Omollo, who was accompanied by Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports, Salim Mvurya, led the National Celebrations Steering Committee on an inspection tour of the 12,000-seater stadium on Thursday. He commended the technical teams for working tirelessly to ensure the stadium meets the required standards ahead of the June 1 celebrations.
“We appreciate the technical team who have worked tirelessly to get us to this point. They have done a tremendous job,” Omollo stated.
This year’s Madaraka Day will be themed around the Blue Economy, and for the first time, celebrations will span three days. According to Dr. Omollo, the program will include high-profile participation from national leaders.
“Day one of the event will be officially opened by His Excellency the Deputy President. Day two will be presided over by former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, and the final day, which is Madaraka Day itself, will be closed by His Excellency President William Ruto,” he announced.
Dr. Omollo also emphasized strong community involvement, particularly from stakeholders within the Lake Basin region. The event will see participation from beach management units, government agencies, NGOs, and the local business community.
He praised Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma for his cooperation and lauded the County Government of Homa Bay for laying the groundwork in developing the stadium before the national government stepped in to complete the project.
“The original work was largely done by the county government, and the Ministry of Sports has since built on that foundation. The stadium has truly transformed,” Omollo said.
To support the influx of visitors, several infrastructure upgrades are underway. The Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA), Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA), and Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA) are all working to enhance access routes. Kenya Power is installing street lighting, while Kenya Airports Authority is refurbishing Kabunde Airstrip.
“As it stands, we are ready to host the Madaraka Day celebrations. KURA is expected to complete its works by early next week, and the critical road segments under KeNHA will be ready. Kenya Airports is also ensuring Kabunde Airstrip is in top shape,” Omollo added.
He called on residents of Homa Bay and Kenyans at large to prepare to welcome visitors and take pride in hosting the major national holiday in the region.
