Sports CS Salim Mvurya inspected construction work at Kipchoge Keino Stadium in Eldoret and said it was ready to host the Mashujaa Day celebrations on Tuesday.
He said he was satisfied with the quality of work at the stadium and it would be more than 85 per cent complete by Sunday, just two days before the ceremony.
“We have made good progress and we are ready to host the ceremony, after which the remaining work will be completed,” Mvurya said.
Contractors were completing the roof of the main dais, where guests will be seated. Seats have also been fitted in parts of the stadium, which has a capacity of 15,000.
Mvurya said Kipchoge Keino Stadium was among more than 35 stadiums under construction in the country ahead of next year’s Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) games and the upcoming World Athletics Championships.
“President William Ruto is achieving his vision for the sports sector, and that will have a direct impact on the lives of young people in the country,” he said.
The Mashujaa Day celebrations in Eldoret will showcase Ruto’s development record, according to Interior PS Raymond Omollo.
Omollo also visited the stadium and pointed to improved security in the North Rift, investments in sports infrastructure and a stabilising economy as evidence of progress.
He 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 Mashujaa Day’s 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 had 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.
Mashujaa Day will be co-hosted by Uasin Gishu, Nandi and Elgeyo Marakwet counties.
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 presentation of the economy as a success story comes amid a broader effort to demonstrate progress across key sectors ahead of the next election cycle.
