Preparations in top gear for Mashujaa Day celebrations in Kericho

The government is racing against time to complete the renovation of Kericho Green Stadium ahead of the 14th edition of the Mashujaa Day celebrations in the county.

Principal Secretary for Internal Security and National Administration Raymond Omollo inspected the stadium on Thursday in the company of high-ranking government officials.

Omollo told the media that the government is keen on increasing the facility’s seating capacity to 10,000.

Omollo noted that the scope of the expansion will include construction of three more Steel Terraces within the open spaces to accommodate more people.

According to the PS, who also chairs the National Celebrations Steering Committee, each of the two areas adjoining the main pavilion will be fitted 1,000 more seats, and another 1,000 will be created within the terraces.

Omollo also said that the stadium will be supplied with essential utilities, particularly electricity, water and sewerage system.

Further, more infrastructural projects have been lined up in the county as one of the many benefits envisioned in hosting the national celebrations in the devolved units on a rotational basis.

Some of the facilities earmarked for upgrade include the 1.58km circumferential road around Kericho open-air market, the 1km K.I.E – Isaac Salat Road, the 1.5km Guru Nanak Temple – Mosque Road, and the 1.7km Cemetery – Cereals–Siloam Road.

"Functional street lights will also be erected within the entire municipality and along the highway," the Ministry of Interior said.

Omollo disclosed that the military is in charge of the ongoing facelift, with area residents set to reap big from the government’s policy on local content.

This year’s celebrations will be anchored on Universal Health Care, which is one of the pillars against which the government has propped the Kenya Vision 2030 targets.

The celebrations set for October 20 will mark the second Heroes' Day under President William Ruto's administration.

“As is now the practice, we have themed all our national celebrations. And for the 2023 Mashujaa Day, our theme will be ‘Access to Universal Health Care.’ To this end, we shall have weeklong celebrations centered around this theme, and more details on that shall be shared in the coming days," Omollo said after leading the steering committee on a first inspection tour of the stadium.

Present were Kericho Governor Kericho Erick Mutai and PSs Mary Muthoni Muriuki (Health), Dr. Paul Rono (Water), Harry Kimutai (Medical Services), Charles Hinga (Housing and Urban Development) and Joel Arumonyang (Public Works) among other national government and county officials.