Preparations for the Madaraka Day celebrations on June 1, 2024, at the Masinde Muliro Stadium in Bungoma County are well underway. Bungoma governor Kenneth Lusaka personally inspected the preparations late in the night on May 20, 2024, and confirmed that everything was running smoothly for the upcoming event.
“Braved the evening chill to oversee the final preparations at Masinde Muliro Stadium, Kanduyi, ensuring everything is flawless for the country’s 61st June Madaraka Day celebrations,” Lusaka shared.
Madaraka Day’s theme for this year is “Promoting Agriculture and Food Security,” with Bungoma County having food for export as well as for local consumption, thus making it an ideal location for hosting the event.
In a welcome address, Bungoma County Governor Kenneth Lusaka urged residents to seize the opportunity to showcase their businesses and activities, fostering economic growth and serving as responsible ambassadors for the county in anticipation of the celebrations.
Principal Secretary of the Interior, Raymond Omollo, previously highlighted Bungoma’s rich cultural heritage as a fitting backdrop for the festivities. On May 20, 2024, PS Omollo, along with Principal Secretary of Defense Patrick Mariru, conducted an inspection tour of Masinde Muliro Stadium and related facilities to ensure preparations were proceeding smoothly.
“To ensure a seamless success of the forthcoming Madaraka Day celebrations, Bungoma County, together with Bungoma Governor @SpeakerKLusaka and my colleague Ps @pmariru (Defence) today, on an assessment and inspection tour, we visited Masinde Muliro Stadium and related facilities,” PS Omollo stated.
The celebration aligns with a directive from President Uhuru Kenyatta in 2016, stipulating that two of Kenya’s three National Days would be hosted on a rotational basis by counties outside Nairobi.
Traditionally, Nairobi County had hosted the national celebrations, but under the new directive, it would host only one event per year.
President Kenyatta’s aim was to promote national cohesion and integration, leading to the establishment of three National Days: Madaraka Day on June 1 and Mashujaa Day on October 20.
In 2023, thousands of Kenyans attended the Madaraka Day celebrations held at Embu Moi Stadium.
