The annual Kitui County Agricultural Show and Trade Fair will not be held this year, agriculture and livestock executive Stephen Kimwele said on Thursday.
He said Ithookwe showground where the event is usually held is undergoing facelift to make it a world-class stadium.
Owing to the renovation works, the agricultural show has been pushed from July this year to February next year. The show will be held at the new Ithookwe stadium.
“Going forward, the Kitui agricultural show would be held in February of every other year at the refurbished grounds,” Kimwele said.
He said once the construction is over, the stadium will host this year’s Mashujaa Day fete.
Kimwele said they found it impracticable to plan for the annual Kitui Agricultural Show event in July as the renovations are going on.
“Since the national government is spearheading the construction of the modern stadium, we have found it ideal to push our agricultural show from this July to February 2026 to pave the way for the important project,” he said.
The agriculture executive said the renovations would be completed before Mashujaa Day.
“For the agricultural show lovers and adherents, you should know we have not done away with the event. But we have only rescheduled from July this year to February 2026,” Kimwele assured.
He said the postponement did not come easy as efforts were made to identify an alternative venue for the July show but all prospective alternative venues were not found ideal.
“An event of the magnitude of the Kitui show requires so many things. There should be adequate security, there should be a secure gate, a perimeter fence and wall, amenity facilities, demonstration farms and livestock lines, among others,” Kimwele said.
“Under the guidance by and through the wisdom of Governor Julius Malombe the Kitui Agricultural Show was shifted to February next year.”
