Homa Bay’s Raila Odinga Stadium filled to capacity Saturday night ahead of Madaraka Day
This year’s Madaraka Day, themed “Our Water, Our Wealth: Harnessing Kenya’s Blue Economy for Sustainable Economic Development”, marks a significant milestone for Homa Bay County as it takes centre stage in national celebrations.
Hundreds of Homa Bay residents flocked to Raila Odinga Stadium on Saturday night, as the county geared up to host Madaraka Day celebrations for the first time in its history.
The 20,000-seat stadium reached full capacity just before midnight, with all gates closed to manage the surging crowd ahead of the historic event. Videos shared on social media showed the stadium filled to the brim while other residents continued to flock in.
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This year’s Madaraka Day, themed “Our Water, Our Wealth: Harnessing Kenya’s Blue Economy for Sustainable Economic Development”, marks a significant milestone for Homa Bay County as it takes centre stage in national celebrations.
It is the first time the county is hosting the event, a move the government describes as a deliberate nod to the region’s importance in advancing the Blue Economy.
Speaking at Tom Mboya University on Saturday ahead of the ceremony, Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura said Homa Bay was selected due to its strategic location on the shores of Lake Victoria, positioning it as the ideal venue to amplify the national conversation around the Blue Economy.
“This year’s Madaraka Day, held in the heart of the Nyanza region, is more than a celebration; it is a testament to the Kenya Kwanza administration’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), which places the Blue Economy and Maritime affairs at the heart of sustainable development,” Mwaura said.
The newly commissioned Raila Odinga Stadium, built at Sh500 million, will serve as the venue for the national event. Mwaura hailed the stadium as a symbol of equitable development and the fruits of devolution.
Infrastructural upgrades
Beyond the celebrations, the government noted that Homa Bay had undergone major infrastructural upgrades in readiness for the occasion. Mwaura said more than 35 kilometres of roads had been rehabilitated or constructed, including the Homa Bay Pier-Stadium Road and the access road to the county government headquarters in Arojo.
He also highlighted the ongoing upgrade of Kabunde Airstrip and other transport connections that are expected to bolster tourism and trade in the region.
Lake Victoria’s economic significance took centre stage in the build-up to the celebrations.
Mwaura said the government was investing Sh1.5 billion in developing fish landing sites in Wakula, Mainuga, and Nyadhiwa in Homa Bay County.
Local businesses boom
He added that small-scale farmers are also receiving support through the Aquaculture Business Development Programme (ABDP), while a Fisheries and Aquaculture Service and Training Centre of Excellence is under construction in Kabonyo.
“Local businesses, from hotels to food kiosks, are thriving as visitors arrive,” he said, describing the economic ripple effect triggered by the celebrations.
Mwaura further announced government plans to expand training in aquaculture and maritime technology through the proposed Maritime Centre of Excellence at Tom Mboya University, which he said enjoys full backing from the presidency.
Reflecting on the broader impact of hosting the event, Mwaura quoted Governor Gladys Wanga, who described the opportunity as a “devolution blessing” for Homa Bay.
“The government, in collaboration with the county government of Homa Bay, the Ministry of Interior, and the State Department for the Blue Economy and Fisheries, has laid a strong foundation for sustainable growth,” he said, urging Kenyans to embrace the blue economy as a driver of future prosperity.
Leaders, including President William Ruto, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo, and Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi, are expected to attend the celebrations.
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