Kenyans brave cold, spend night inside Raila Odinga Stadium

Thousands of Kenyans defied the night chill and camped inside the newly upgraded Raila Odinga Stadium in Homa Bay, determined not to miss a seat at the first-ever Madaraka Day celebrations held in the county.

By midnight, the 12,000-seater stadium, transformed from a modest 3,000-capacity venue into a modern, state-of-the-art facility, was packed to capacity.

Crowds had started queuing as early as 7 pm on Saturday, prompting security officers to open the gates earlier than scheduled at 9:30 pm.

By 10:30 pm, videos shared online showed the stadium already halfway full, the stands abuzz with anticipation, songs, and vuvuzelas.

Today’s event is being officiated by President William Ruto, with Slovenian President Nataša Pirc Musar as the guest of honour.

Raila Odinga stadium in Homabay is already full Ahead of Madaraka day Celebrations Tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/7kjr2lt6Jl

— jim Njue (@jimNjue_) May 31, 2025

This year’s Madaraka Day is themed “Harnessing Kenya’s Blue Economy for Sustainable Growth,” and the choice of Homa Bay as the host is no coincidence.

Positioned along the serene shores of Lake Victoria, the county is seen as a vital frontier in the government’s strategy to unlock the potential of Kenya’s blue economy.

Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura, speaking at Tom Mboya University on Saturday, described the celebration as a “testament to the Kenya Kwanza administration’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).”

He added, “This region, rich in aquatic resources and untapped maritime potential, is symbolic of the future we envision, one where every corner of Kenya contributes to national development.”

As is the norm, President William Ruto is leading the day's celebrations, themed around the blue economy, a sector seen as key to unlocking the country’s aquatic potential. 

In attendance are Deputy Kithure Kindiki, Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga, and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, among others.

The revamped Raila Odinga Stadium itself is now poised to be a national landmark, not only for sports and entertainment, but also as a top-tier venue for tourism and state events.