The government has confirmed that this year’s Mashujaa Day celebrations will proceed as planned in Kitui County, despite the ongoing national mourning for the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
Government Spokesman Isaac Mwaura announced on Saturday that the celebrations, scheduled for Monday, October 20, 2025, will be held at Ithookwe Stadium in Kitui, in accordance with the Public Holidays Act and Article 9(3) of the Constitution of Kenya (2010).
“The government affirms with unwavering resolve that Mashujaa Day, our sacred celebration of Kenya’s heroes, will proceed as planned,” said Mwaura. “We continue to mourn the loss of Raila Odinga, a great hero and statesman whose indomitable spirit shaped our nation’s journey.”
Mwaura described Mashujaa Day as a cornerstone of Kenya’s identity, where citizens unite to honor those who have contributed to the country’s freedom and progress.
While some peripheral events such as Energy Week and the Media Breakfast have been postponed to allow space for reflection and mourning, the main national event will go on in full honor of Kenya’s heroes, both past and present.
Mwaura urged Kenyans to attend the celebrations in large numbers, emphasizing unity and resilience as the best way to honor Odinga’s memory.
“Let us come together as one people to celebrate the enduring legacy of the Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga and all our mashujaa. On this day, let us not only mourn but rise in the spirit of harambee, recommitting to the dream of a stronger, united Kenya,” he said.
The celebrations in Kitui are expected to attract national and county leaders, as well as thousands of citizens.
President William Ruto’s planned development tour of the Ukambani region, which was to precede Mashujaa Day, was called off following Odinga’s death. The seven-day national mourning period is set to end after Raila’s burial on Sunday.