Madaraka Day to be held in Kisumu, PS Karanja Kibicho says

Jomo Kenyatta International Stadium in Mamboleo Kisumu county where this year's Madaraka day celebrations will be held. (Collins Oduor, Standard)

This year's Madaraka Day celebrations will be held at the newly built Jomo Kenyatta International Stadium in Kisumu on June 1, the government has announced.

A high-level team of government officials led by Interior Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho visited the Sh350 million facility on Thursday to assess its ability to host the celebrations to commemorate the day the country attained internal self-rule.

Kibicho who is the National Celebrations Committee chairman said, ''We will hold the celebrations at the stadium for a few, but we have also identified a number of areas where people will gather to follow the celebrations virtually.'' 

This is the first time that Kisumu will host such national celebrations, which were traditionally in Nairobi until the Jubilee regime revised the trend to rotate the celebrations in counties.

''We have so far lined up a number of entertainment activities to cheer up those who will attend the historical celebrations,” the PS said.

Interior Permanent Secretary Karanja Kibicho (center) and other government officials address the press at Jomo Kenyatta International Stadium in Mamboleo Kisumu County, the venue where this year's Madaraka day celebrations will be held. (Collins Oduor, Standard)

Hosting of the celebrations in Kisumu is not only set to increase the fortunes of hoteliers and traders but would also create a sense of national pride to the residents of lakeside city.

The celebrations are expected to boost the number of domestic visitors and also increase business for small traders and the transport sector.

Jomo Kenyatta International Stadium in Mamboleo Kisumu county where this year's Madaraka day celebrations will be held. (Collins Oduor, Standard)

''We want people to attend the event if not by physical presence but also virtually because the State will unveil some good news to the residents and the people of Kenya,'' the PS said.

In keeping with the Covid-19 norm, those invited to attend physically will be expected to wear masks, sanitize and keep social distancing.

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