President William Ruto has embarked on an extensive tour of the Nyanza region ahead of the Madaraka Day celebrations scheduled for June 1, 2025. This year’s national event will be held at the newly renamed Raila Odinga Stadium in Homa Bay County, under the theme “Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs.”
The President’s visit began on Thursday, May 29, with a shift in his itinerary after a planned leaders’ meeting in Migori was reportedly cancelled due to local political wrangles. Instead, Ruto landed in Kisumu, where he unveiled a completed affordable housing project by LapFund, with a separate 1,300-unit project under the national government also nearing completion.
Ruto’s tour continued in Ndhiwa, Homa Bay County, where he inspected the Gor Mahia Ring Road and launched a Sh2 billion Last Mile Electricity project. He also laid the foundation stone for a new Technical Training Institute (TTI), a significant investment aimed at expanding access to tertiary education in the region.
On Friday, May 30, the President will preside over the closing of the Blue Economy Conference at Tom Mboya University (TMU) and launch both a new university building and the Kenya School of Law and TMU Maritime Centre of Excellence. These institutions aim to build capacity for Kenya’s growing blue economy sector. Ruto will also inspect the Kenya Ports Authority pier and fish market, and tour ongoing infrastructure developments.
Saturday will see the President hold discussions with Homa Bay leaders at the State Lodge in preparation for Sunday’s celebrations.
The spotlight will be on Homa Bay on June 1 as President Ruto leads the country in marking Madaraka Day at Raila Odinga Stadium — the first national celebration held at the newly upgraded facility. Following the ceremony, he will attend a state luncheon and later visit the MFA Wire Forest in Kasipul.
In preparation for the event, major infrastructural upgrades have taken place, including the completion of the stadium, parking areas, and over 35 kilometres of roads by KeNHA, KeRRA, and KURA. Governor Gladys Wanga has called on residents to turn out in large numbers to welcome the President and participate in the historic occasion.
