Preparations for the 2026 Mashujaa Day celebrations have reached a crucial stage as the main venue Kipchoge Keino stadium in Eldoret is 68 per cent complete ahead of the national day on October 20. For the first time, Uasin Gishu, Nandi and Elgeyo Marakwet counties will join together to host the annual event with activities set to take place in the three counties from October 13 to 18 before the main event in Eldoret.

Interior and National Administration Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo, who chairs the Mashujaa Day Steering Committee, said the government was confident of completing the preparations on time despite the huge amount of work still to be done.

“As Chair of the Steering Committee, I am confident that we will be ready for the celebrations. There is still considerable work to be done,” Omollo said.

The stadium that will host the main celebrations after the swearing-in of the new Parliament on October 12 has a seating capacity of 15,043 and construction and improvement works are being done by the Ministry of Sports with support and supervision from the Ministry of Defence. Preparations are also underway in two other stadiums that will be used to host some of the activities related to the celebrations. Kapsabet Stadium is 45.4 per cent complete and has a capacity of 10,000 while Kamariny Stadium in Iten is 58 per cent complete also with a capacity of 10,000.

The government is also working on improving the roads in Eldoret City, Kapsabet and Iten as well as working on water connectivity and other infrastructure. Omollo said contractors were working hard extra hours to speed up the completion of the remaining works.

“We are happy with the work so far done to ensure that we are set for the event,” he said.

The PS said the technical teams were targeting to have substantial completion by October 14, six days ahead of the national celebrations. The celebrations will be preceded by sporting and cultural activities in the three counties. The government has launched a Sh63 million Mashujaa Day sporting tournament that will involve athletics, football and volleyball with competitions starting at the ward level before the county and inter-county finals. More than 10,000 participants will take part in the games.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen said taking the tournament to the grassroots would enable residents take part in the national celebrations while at the same time giving a platform to unearth sporting talents.

“This is an opportunity for us to seek and market new talent for people who have got the skills,” Murkomen said.

The 2026 celebrations are being held under the theme “Security, Sports and the Finance Sector (The Economy)” which the government has identified as areas of focus during the program. The health sector in Uasin Gishu has also been preparing for the big day with emergency medical services on standby. The county health department has said it has worked with private health facilities to beef up emergency services and medical coverage during the celebrations.

President William Ruto is expected to officiate on October 20 at the Kipchoge Keino stadium where visitors and dignitaries will attend the event. The three host counties are working hard to finish the remaining infrastructure works while also finalizing the sporting, cultural, security and medical arrangements in readiness for the big day.