Residents in Homa Bay County on Saturday night, May 31, 2025, made their way into Raila Odinga Stadium, which is expected to host this year’s Madaraka Day celebrations.

Thousands of residents were recorded occupying various sitting places within the newly refurbished stadium, which is expected to host various leaders, led by President William Ruto, for the celebrations on Sunday, June 1, 2025.

Preliminary reports indicated that security officers deployed in the area were compelled to open the gates at around 9:30 pm for the residents who had started queuing as early as 7 pm.

Videos shared online showed the Raila Odinga Stadium almost halfway full by 10:30 pm on Saturday, May 31, 2025.

By the time of this publication, security officers had not provided a way forward regarding the situation in the Raila Odinga Stadium.

20,000-capacity Raila Odinga stadium, Homa Bay county, almost full to capacity 3 minutes after gates were opened at 9:30PM. Long queues outside the stadium ahead of the 62nd Madaraka day Sunday. #Railaodinga #MadarakaDay2025 #Homabay @gladyswanga @RailaOdinga @WilliamsRuto pic.twitter.com/zyRqkNBtNF

— Emmanuel Too (@TheEmmanuelToo) May 31, 2025

Madaraka Day

On Sunday, June 1, 2025, the stadium will serve as the site of this year’s Madaraka Day celebrations, a national holiday commemorating the country’s attainment of self-rule in 1963.

Slovenian President Pirc Musar, who is on a historic state visit to Kenya, will be the guest of honour at Madaraka Day celebrations in Homa Bay.

Speaking at Tom Mboya University on Saturday, May 31, 2025, ahead of the event, Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura said the county was chosen because of its strategic location on the shores of Lake Victoria, making it the ideal venue to highlight the theme: ‘Harnessing Kenya’s Blue Economy for Sustainable Growth.’

“This year’s Madaraka Day, held in the heart of the Nyanza region, is more than a celebration; it is a testament to the Kenya Kwanza administration’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), which places the Blue Economy and Maritime affairs at the heart of sustainable development,” he stated.

Beyond the ceremony, Homa Bay has undergone a visible facelift in infrastructure.

“Over 35 kilometres of roads, including the Homa Bay Pier–Stadium Road and access to the County Government Headquarters in Arujo, have been rehabilitated or built,” Dr. Mwaura noted.

After Madaraka Day celebrations, the Raila Odinga Stadium, built at a cost of Ksh500 million, will play host to the Mashemeji Derby, pitting archrivals Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards.