The government has confirmed that this year’s Mashujaa Day celebrations will proceed as scheduled in Kitui County despite the ongoing national mourning for the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
Government Spokesman Isaac Mwaura said the celebrations, set for Monday, October 20, 2025, will take place at Ithookwe Stadium in Kitui, in accordance with the Public Holidays Act and Article 9(3) of the Constitution of Kenya (2010).
“The government affirms with unwavering resolve that Mashujaa Day, our sacred celebration of Kenya’s heroes, will proceed as planned,” Mwaura said in a statement released Saturday.
“The government continues to mourn the loss of Raila Odinga, a great hero and statesman, whose indomitable spirit shaped our nation’s journey.”
He described Mashujaa Day as a cornerstone of our collective identity, where Kenyans gather to honor the sacrifices of those who built the nation.
While noting that some peripheral events, including Energy Week and the Media Breakfast have been postponed to allow space for reflection and mourning, Mwaura said the main national celebration would go on in full honor of Kenya’s heroes, past and present.
Mwaura called on Kenyans to turn out in large numbers to celebrate the country’s heroes and to honor the memory of Raila Odinga through unity and resilience.
“Let us come together as one people to celebrate the enduring legacy of the Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga and all our mashujaa. On this day, let us not only mourn but rise in the spirit of harambee, honoring our fallen hero by recommitting to the dream of a stronger, united Kenya,” he said.
Mashujaa Day is one of Kenya’s key national holidays, celebrating men and women who contributed to the country’s freedom and progress.
This year’s celebrations in Kitui are expected to attract national and county leaders, as well as thousands of Kenyans from across the country.
This comes amidst the presidential proclamation of a seven-day mourning period for the late former Prime Minister Raila, who is set to be buried on Sunday.
The highly anticipated development tour of the Ukambani region by President William Ruto was called off following the sudden death of Raila.
The week-long tour was set to begin on October 15, ahead of the Mashujaa Day celebrations.
The President was also expected to launch the Kangundo-Mwala road tarmacking.
According to the initial programme, the President was scheduled to kick off the tour in Mwingi West, to launch the Kwasiku-Migwani-Mbondoni road project, before proceeding to Kitui East to commission the Zombe-Mwitika road.
Ruto was expected to crisscross the three counties of Kitui, Makueni, and Machakos to launch and inspect key infrastructure projects.
