Raila Odinga stadium in Homa Bay, the venue for this year's Madaraka Day celebrations/COURTESYThe event not only showcased the region’s rich cultural heritage and scenic beauty but also paved the way for multimillion-shilling state projects aimed at transforming the local economy.
From improved infrastructure to investments, the county is already witnessing the tangible benefits of hosting the national fete.
President William Ruto, who made a three-day tour of county ahead the Sunday’s celebrations, launched several key projects including roads, a modern fish market and of course the renovated and expanded Raila Odinga Stadium.
"No region will be left behind in our journey to transforming Kenya…,” Ruto said when he officiated the launch of the Sh500 million Homa Bay Pier that is geared towards boosting trade, creating jobs and promoting tourism as well as enhancing the region's blue economy.
“Let us faith to believe in our plan for transformation; the courage to execute and the patience and focus to build a prosperous and inclusive Kenya that we can all be proud of ,” he said.
The 12,000-seater Raila Odinga Stadium, the venue for this year’s Madaraka Day celebrations, is expected to boost social and economic growth through job creation, promote sports tourism and enhance commercial activities.
“It is our business to have a progressive government that serves every Kenyan in every part of our country,” Ruto said.
Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga termed the Raila Odinga stadium a symbol of national pride noting that it is also going to promote sports in the region.
"The Raila Odinga Stadium is not just a venue, it’s a symbol of our commitment to nurturing talent and developing sports infrastructure in the region,” said Wanga.
"We are proud to hand over a facility that reflects our collective vision for progress and national pride,” she stated.
She lauded the move to hold this year’s Madaraka Day celebration in Homa Bay saying it has propelled the region to the national arena and upgraded the venue to national standard.
Although Raila Odinga Stadium was built in 2014, it could only accommodate 3,000 spectators, but the national launched expansion and renovations in January 2025 in readiness of the Madaraka Day celebrations to be held on Sunday.
Through the expansions and renovations, the Raila Odinga Stadium now has a state-of-the-art touch transforming the facility into a multi-purpose venue fit for sports among other events.
Apart from that is of course, all the infrastructure that comes, for example the completion of the Raila Odinga stadium, the roads, the dualling of the major highway, and the strengthening of the water services, she said.
Upon his arrival on Thursday, Ruto launched the tarmacking of Marindi-Oria Bridge Roads, Ndhiwa Technical Training Institute and Last Mile Connectivity. The Head of State also laid the foundation stone for Makasembo Estate Phase 1 Project.
Governor Wanga said President Ruto has also made history by being the first sitting president to “sleep on Homa Bay soil, I think this is history made in many ways.”
The Head of State started his tour in Kisumu by commissioning 901 units under phase one of the LAPFUND Makasembo affordable housing project, which targets 1,870 units upon completion.
Thereafter, he proceeded to Kirembe to launch the Lake Victoria Point affordable housing project.
Other benefits that have come along with hosting the celebration include the construction of Gor Mahia Ring Road in Magina and launch Ndhiwa Technical Training Institute (TTI) in Kanyamwa Kologi ward, Ndhiwa Constituency.
“We are excited as Homa Bay County to host the Madaraka Day celebrations, and I would really like to thank President William Ruto for choosing Homa Bay to host this very important celebrations,” Wanga said.
“It is history made, for the first time since the independence of our country a county like Homa Bay gets a chance to host a national celebration,” she stated.
"I think we have been very fortunate as Homa Bay County in our partnership with the National government to have several projects that are important, for example, the pier that has been developed after 50 years of just being neglected now we have a modern pier that ships can dock on."
She stated that the revitalisation of the transport corridor which links it now with the Kisumu Port and also to Bukoba and Mwanza places Homa Bay in a strategic position the Lake Victoria transport system.
“So if you think about legacy that we would look at benefitting now, we would look at the Gor Mahia Ring Road which the President will launch its construction during the festivities, if that is completed, and in terms of legacy, Homa Bay will have very little more to ask his Excellency the President,” the Governor said.
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