HOMA BAY, Kenya – The government has announced that the 2024 Madaraka Day celebrations will take place in Homa Bay County instead of Kitui, as initially planned.
Internal Security Principal Secretary (PS) Raymond Omollo said the change was prompted by the event’s theme—Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs—which aligns more closely with Homa Bay’s geographical and economic profile.
Why the Shift?
Madaraka Day, celebrated on June 1 every year, marks Kenya’s attainment of self-governance in 1963.
This year, the national celebrations were originally set for Kitui County.
However, officials decided to relocate the event to Raila Odinga Stadium in Homa Bay Town, a region bordering Lake Victoria and heavily reliant on fisheries and other maritime activities.
“The theme of this year’s Madaraka Day focuses on the Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs. It was important to hold the celebrations in a region where this theme is more relevant,” PS Omollo stated.
We’ve just hosted the National Celebrations Steering Committee, led by the Principal Secretary for Interior and National Administration, Dr. Raymond Omollo. This visit marked the inaugural inspection tour of the proposed venues and facilities in preparation for the upcoming…
In readiness for the celebrations, the government is investing in key infrastructure projects within the county.
These include expansion and rehabilitation of Kabunde Airstrip to accommodate increased air traffic, upgrading of selected roads to facilitate movement within the area, and renovation of Raila Odinga Stadium, where the main celebrations will be held, to expand its seating capacity to 12,000 people.
Construction work is already underway, with contractors on site to ensure completion before the June 1 event.
The decision to move the celebrations followed extensive discussions between the National Celebrations Steering Committee and local political leaders.
Among those involved in the deliberations were Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga and Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma.
Hosting a national event of this scale is expected to boost the local economy, increase investment in infrastructure, and spotlight the county’s potential in the blue economy sector.
This marks the second time in recent years that the government has changed the designated host county for a national celebration, reinforcing the administration’s focus on aligning national events with strategic economic priorities.
