There is a wave of excitement sweeping through Homa Bay County as thousands of Kenyans gather for the 62nd Madaraka Day celebrations, set to be held at the newly refurbished Raila Odinga Stadium.
The stadium, with an official seating capacity of 12,000, was already filled to the brim by midnight — hours before the national event is set to begin.
As of 9:00 PM on Friday night, the venue was half full, and thousands of eager residents were seen waiting outside, hoping to secure a spot.
Also Read
By early morning, crowds had swelled, prompting security officers to close the gates after the stadium exceeded capacity, with estimates suggesting that over 20,000 people had managed to enter the venue.
The atmosphere in Homa Bay is electric. Residents say they are not only proud to host the prestigious national event but are also excited by the development it has ushered into the region.
Many pointed to significant infrastructure upgrades ahead of the event, including the Ksh 500 million refurbishment of Raila Odinga Stadium and the construction of a 35-kilometre road within the county.
“We are happy to witness this transformation. Madaraka Day has truly brought a new face to Homa Bay,” said one resident outside the venue.
Due to the overwhelming turnout, government strategist Dennis Itumbi announced that large screens are being installed at nearby school grounds to accommodate the overflow crowd.
These grounds, too, have already started filling up with attendees.
With such an enthusiastic reception and the promise of more development to come, this year’s Madaraka Day celebrations in Homa Bay are shaping up to be both memorable and symbolic for residents of the lakeside county.