[PHOTOS]: Kenyans fill Raila Odinga Stadium for 62nd Madaraka Day celebrations

The event drew thousands of attendees eager to witness the symbolic ceremony.

by JAMES GICHIGI

News01 June 2025 - 16:08

In Summary

This year’s Madaraka Day theme is "Harnessing Kenya's Blue Economy for National Prosperity."
The festivities, which unfolded at the newly renovated Raila Odinga Stadium in Homa Bay county, underscored the county’s growing prominence on the national stage.

Kenyans flocked to Homa Bay County on Sunday, June 1, 2025, to mark the 62nd Madaraka Day, a historic event as it was the first time the celebrations were hosted in the county since independence.

The festivities, which unfolded at the newly renovated Raila Odinga Stadium in Homa Bay county, underscored the county’s growing prominence on the national stage, drawing thousands of attendees eager to witness the symbolic ceremony.

This year’s Madaraka Day theme is "Harnessing Kenya's Blue Economy for National Prosperity."

In line with the theme, Homa Bay county saw a surge in development, including the refurbishment of the Homa Bay Pier and new waterfront projects designed to boost tourism, trade, and the local economy.

President William Ruto spearheaded the celebrations, joined by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, Slovenia’s President Nataša Pirc Musar, who was the Chief Guest, and other local and international dignitaries.

In his keynote address, Ruto emphasised the significance of Madaraka Day as a renewal of Kenya’s promise to its citizens: a promise of liberty, dignity, security, and opportunity.

He underscored that through collective imagination, hard work and resilience, Kenyans have the power to transform their nation, building a future worthy of the sacrifices made by the heroes of independence.

“This renewal of our commitment to deliver on the fundamental mandate of Madaraka is inspired by the enduring spirit of self-determination through which we vowed to give ourselves not only what was denied to us during colonialism, but also what every citizen and every human being deserves: liberty, dignity, security, and opportunity,” Ruto said..

“Madaraka affirms our collective faith, shared across generations of Kenyan patriots, that through hard work, innovation, and resilience, our farmers, traders, youth, workers, and professionals will rise to the occasion. With the strength of our imagination and effort, we can, and must, transform this nation with the imagination of our own minds and the work of our own hands.”

President Nataša Pirc Musar of Slovenia, in her address, praised Kenya’s commitment to regional integration and hailed the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as a game-changer for the continent’s economic future.

She urged African nations to unite in the spirit of collaboration and solidarity, emphasizing that together, they can overcome shared challenges and build a prosperous and resilient Africa.