WAJIR, Kenya — Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo has said the ongoing construction of the Wajir Stadium, the venue for this year’s Madaraka Day celebrations, will be completed within a month after the national event.
Speaking in Wajir on Sunday ahead of the June 1 celebrations, Omollo said the facility is sufficiently prepared to host the expected crowd of about 10,000 people, although some construction works will continue after the national event.
“The expectation is that the team that is responsible, under the supervision of the Kenya Defence Forces, will be able to finish that within a month from tomorrow after the celebrations,” he said.
According to the PS, the stadium’s roofing is approximately 60 per cent complete, while additional works, including installation of a tartan track and other supporting amenities, are still pending.
The facility has been undergoing rapid construction in preparation for the 62nd Madaraka Day celebrations, which will be presided over by President William Ruto.
Omollo urged members of the public planning to attend the event to arrive by 7 a.m., noting that organisers intend to conclude the official programme by noon to allow Muslim faithful to observe Dhuhr prayers.
Following the celebrations, President Ruto is expected to host a State luncheon in Wajir.
The PS credited the swift progress of the project to collaboration between the national government, the Kenya Defence Forces, and the Wajir County Government.
He said the infrastructure works associated with the event are expected to deliver long-term benefits to residents beyond the national celebrations.
Among the completed projects are the rehabilitation of existing roads and the construction of approximately 25 kilometres of new roads aimed at improving transport connectivity within the county.
Omollo also noted that a borehole drilled to support construction activities has since been made available to local residents, helping improve access to water in surrounding communities.
The Madaraka Day celebrations cap a week-long programme of government activities held at Wagberi Primary School from May 25 to May 31 under the theme of education, skills development, and the future.
The government has used the thematic week to showcase development initiatives and engage residents on programmes aimed at improving education outcomes, youth empowerment, and economic opportunities in the region.
This year marks the first time Wajir County has hosted Kenya’s national Madaraka Day celebrations, placing the northeastern county at the centre of the country’s annual commemoration of self-governance and national development.
