The government has announced that the 2025 Madaraka Day celebrations will now take place in Homa Bay County instead of Kitui County, as earlier planned.
This was confirmed by Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo on Thursday.
Kitui was originally chosen to host the event, but political issues forced a change.
According to reports, Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka and Kitui Senator Enoch Wambua had set tough conditions for President William Ruto before accepting the celebrations in their county.
Kalonzo wanted the president to complete the Kibwezi-Kitui road, an important project for the region before landing in Kitui for the celebrations.
Senator Wambua also set another demand, asking Ruto to apologize for a past remark where he referred to the Kamba community as “ndengu farmers,” a comment that did not sit well with many locals.
These demands created tension, leading to the event being moved.
Instead, Kitui will now host the Mashujaa Day celebrations in October 2025.
With Madaraka Day now shifted to Homa Bay, local leaders have only three months to prepare Raila Odinga Stadium for the national event.
Omollo said this year’s celebrations will focus on the blue economy, making Homa Bay a good choice since it is located along Lake Victoria.
Homa Bay has one of the longest shorelines on Lake Victoria, and the government is already working on several projects to improve business and transport in the area. Some of these projects include repairing piers in Homa Bay, Kendu Bay, Mbita, and Sena on Mfangano Island.
While visiting the planned venue, Omollo urged Homa Bay residents, especially business people, to use this chance to grow their earnings.
The change of location shows the political challenges President Ruto is facing as he tries to work with different regions ahead of the 2027 elections.
However, Ruto is now finding Nyanza region his second political backyard after Rift Valley
By Newshub