The government is fast-tracking the completion of Kamariny Stadium in Elgeyo Marakwet county as preparations gather pace for this year’s Mashujaa Day celebrations to be held on October 20.
Construction of the stadium, which had stalled for several years, is now expected to be completed within the next three months to ensure the venue is ready to host the national event, which will be presided over by President William Ruto.
Top government officials and representatives from Sports Kenya have been making regular visits to the site to monitor progress and ensure the project remains on schedule.
Preparations received a further boost after Governor Wesley Rotich hosted the second multi-agency meeting at his Iten office to review plans for the celebrations.
The governor received updates from various departments before leading officials on an inspection tour of Kamariny Stadium to assess the ongoing construction works.
“We have started preparations early for the Mashujaa Day national celebrations to be held in our county and we have several teams working to ensure everything is in order,” Rotich said.
The inspection team included county commissioner David Kosgei, Deputy Governor Grace Cheserek, county secretary Lazarus Chebii, county executive committee members and chief officers from various departments.
Rotich said residents were eagerly looking forward to hosting the national celebrations and were determined to make the event a success.
“Residents of our county are really excited that we will host the national celebrations, and we are all geared to make it a great success,” he said.
The governor said hosting Mashujaa Day could bring additional development opportunities to the county, with President Ruto expected to address issues affecting both the region and the country during his visit.
Rotich also pointed to what he described as significant progress in security and development within the Kerio Valley, an area that for years was associated with banditry and violence.
The valley, once widely referred to as the “Valley of Death” because of persistent insecurity, is now experiencing a transformation following intensified security operations and the resumption of development programmes.
Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen has previously said the government’s renewed approach to security has helped reopen the region to development initiatives that had stalled for years.
For decades, residents endured insecurity, poverty and inadequate infrastructure, including poor road networks and limited access to electricity, healthcare services and water.
However, improved security has brought renewed optimism to many communities.
Authorities attribute the relative peace to a voluntary disarmament exercise that has seen more than 400 illegal firearms surrendered to security agencies.
The initiative has also encouraged some young people previously involved in banditry to abandon the practice and pursue rehabilitation and alternative livelihoods.
“We lived like birds, always on the run, dodging bandits. There was no life here,” said Paul Yator, a resident of Tot who now earns a living as a mango farmer.
Yator said he had returned home and resumed farming with renewed hope following improvements in security.
Rotich credited the calmer security environment with reviving economic and social activities that had ground to a halt in many parts of the valley.
He said markets, schools, health facilities and other public projects that had previously been abandoned were gradually becoming operational again.
“The improved security is one of the major achievements by the government as we set the stage to host this year’s Mashujaa Day celebrations,” Rotich said.
