Ruto arrives in coast to lead Mashujaa Day celebrations

 

The once-sleepy Kwale town has been awakened after it received a major facelift to host the 61st Mashujaa Day celebrations today. 

Yesterday, President William Ruto arrived in the coastal city of Mombasa ahead of the celebration of the holiday in Kwale. This will be the president's first public function after the Thursday ouster of his deputy Righathi Gachagua. 

Government officials said preparations for the celebrations to be presided over by President William Ruto are complete with about 10,000 people expected to attend. 

Several roads have been tarmacked; it is set to host the national celebrations for the first.  Kwale became a beehive of activity yesterday as visitors and dignitaries flocked to the Diani resort town in readiness for the celebrations. 

The coastal town has been the latest beneficiary of the decentralization of the celebrations from Nairobi to make them rotational across counties for them to tap the resultant benefits. 

The south coast town has benefited from many projects including the improvement of the 10,200-capacity Kwale Stadium to international standards and elevating the Kwale County Commissioner’s residence to a mini-state lodge. 

Addressing the press at Jacaranda Beach Hotel in Diani, Kwale County, Coast regional commissioner Ms Rhoda Onyancha said the gates will be opened as early as 4 am. 

“We have beefed up security and re-directed traffic to ensure that the celebrations take place without any hitch,” she said. 

She said several roads covering a length of 10 kilometres have been upgraded to bitumen standard during preparations for the celebrations. 

In Kwale town, the government has constructed approach roads around the stadium among them, the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) to the stadium road, the road leading to Kinarini Primary School, the road leading to County Commissioner’s residence, the road leading to Methodist Church, NCPB to Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and stadium loop road. 

“Construction of the stadium is complete and ready for celebrations tomorrow while all these roads are ongoing with some completed and others at 95 and 100 per cent completion status,” she said. 

She was flanked by Tourism principal secretary John Ololtuaa, Digital Economy principal secretary John Tanui, Broadcasting principal Edward Kisiang’ani, and government spokesman Isaac Mwaura among others. 

Ms Onyancha said the Ukunda airport apron has been upgraded to accommodate more aircraft. 

“Essentially, these developments have raised the county’s profile enhancing its allure for tourism as they reinforce the existing tourist attraction sites in Diani backed by the oceanic sceneries of the Indian Ocean,” she said. 

Mr Ololtuaa said the government would encourage direct flights to raise tourist numbers, noting that hotels were registering brisk business. 

“We have received two million tourists and we expect to attain 2.5 million next year,” he said. 

He said Ukunda airport has become one of the fastest-growing facilities in the country after being upgraded with funds from the Tourism Trust Fund. 

The president is expected to commission the construction of affordable housing units in Kwale County, hold a meeting at the port of Mombasa, and meet Coast leaders.