Interior PS Raymond Omolo, Government Spokesman Charles Owino and Deputy Inspector General Eliud Lagat in Eldoret on October 13, 2026Next week’s Mashujaa Day celebrations in Eldoret will showcase President William Ruto’s development record, Interior PS Raymond Omollo has said.
The government points to improved security in the North Rift, investments in sports infrastructure, and a stabilising economy as evidence of progress.
Omollo said no part of the country had been left out of Ruto’s development agenda, arguing the economy was performing better than it was when the administration took office four years ago.
The celebrations will focus on security, sports and finance—three sectors the PS said had undergone significant changes under the current administration.
However, as the national event provides a platform for the government to highlight its achievements, the claims will also invite scrutiny over the extent to which these changes have translated into lasting improvements in people’s daily lives.
Omollo spoke at the Eldoret National Polytechnic, where government departments are showcasing their work during the Mashujaa Day thematic week.
He was accompanied by, among others, Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat and his Administration Police counterpart, Gilbert Masengeli.
On security, Omollo said the government had made progress in restoring peace in parts of the North Rift that have endured years of banditry and insecurity, particularly in the Kerio Valley region.
He said security agencies had recovered more than 3,000 illegal firearms in areas affected by banditry, allowing residents to resume economic activities with fewer disruptions.
“We now have all schools operating in areas that were affected by banditry, and that has helped to revive many other economic programmes,” Omollo said.
The reopening of schools and the resumption of economic activity serve as key indicators of improved security in communities previously affected by violence.
However, the durability of those gains will depend on whether residents can continue attending school, farming, trading and moving freely without renewed attacks.
Omollo also pointed to ongoing reforms in the security sector, including salary increases for officers.
He said the lowest-paid officers had received increases of more than 40 per cent over the past three years, presenting the pay rise as part of the administration’s efforts to improve the welfare of security personnel.
“With all these achievements, we have reason to celebrate, and that is why we are using Mashujaa Day to showcase them,” the PS said.
Sports infrastructure will form another pillar of the celebrations, with the government highlighting the development of Kipchoge Keino Stadium in Eldoret, Kamariny Stadium in Elgeyo Marakwet and Kipchoge Stadium in Kapsabet.
Omollo said the projects demonstrated the administration’s commitment to investing in sports facilities in the region and across the country.
He said Kipchoge Keino Stadium would be 85 per cent complete by Saturday as preparations intensified for the national celebrations, which will be co-hosted by Uasin Gishu, Nandi and Elgeyo Marakwet counties.
The projects are expected to bolster sports infrastructure in a region renowned for athletics.
Their longer-term value, however, will depend on completion, proper maintenance and whether local athletes and communities can easily access and benefit from the facilities.
On the economy, Omollo said the country had inherited high inflation and difficult economic conditions but was now experiencing greater stability and faster expansion under Ruto’s leadership.
The government’s framing of the economy as a success story came amid a broader effort to demonstrate progress across key sectors ahead of the next election cycle.
Nevertheless, the extent of that recovery is best evaluated against official data on economic growth, inflation, household purchasing power and employment, rather than broad official assertions.
Mashujaa Day will therefore serve not only as a national celebration but also as an opportunity for the government to make its case on security, sports and economic performance, with residents ultimately judging the gains by the tangible improvements in their daily lives.
Instant analysis
Mashujaa Day in Eldoret offers the Ruto administration a platform to showcase its record on security, sports and economic recovery. The government points to recovered illegal firearms, reopened schools, and stadium investments as evidence of progress in the North Rift. However, these claims face scrutiny against sustained peace and improved household welfare.
