Gov’t kicks off preparations to hold Mashujaa Day celebrations in Kericho

The government has officially began upgrading the Kericho Green Stadium which is set to host the 14the edition of the Mashujaa Day celebrations slated for October 20, 2023.

Internal Security and National Administration Principal Secretary Dr. Raymond Omollo, speaking during an inspection tour of the stadium on Thursday, said the government seeks to increase the facility's seating capacity to 10,000.

The PS said the expansion will include construction of three more steel terraces within the open spaces to accommodate more people.

He noted that each of the two areas adjoining the main pavilion will be fitted 1,000 more seats, and another 1,000 will be created within the terraces.

Dr. Omollo, who also chairs the National Celebrations Steering Committee, added that the stadium will be supplied with essential utilities, particularly electricity, water and sewerage system.

He added that Kericho County also stands to gain some goodies from hosting this year’s fete, as the Kenya Kwanza administration has lined up a series of infrastructural projects as envisioned in the plan of to hold national celebrations in the devolved units on a rotational basis.

Sections of roads within the town are set to be upgraded, key among them the 1.58km circumferential road around Kericho open-air market, the 1km K.I.E - Isaac Salat Road, the 1.5km Guru Nanak Temple - Mosque Road, the 1.7km Cemetery – Cereals - Siloam Road.

Functional street lights will also be erected within the entire municipality and along the highway.

According to Dr. Omollo, the military is in charge of the ongoing facelift, with area residents set to reap big from the government's policy on local content.

The Interior PS added that that this year's celebrations will be anchored on Universal Health Care, which is one of the pillars against which the government has propped The Kenya Vision 2030 targets.

“As is now the practice, we have themed all our national celebrations. And for the 2023 Mashujaa Day, our theme will be 'Access to Universal Health Care.' To this end, we shall have weeklong celebrations centered around this theme, and more details on that shall be shared in the coming days,” he stated.