The 20,000-seater Raila Odinga Stadium in Homa Bay was a sea of colour and energy on Saturday night, May 31, 2025, as thousands gathered for the 62nd Madaraka Day celebrations, filling it to capacity by midnight.
The event is the first of its kind to be held in Homa Bay, a significant moment for the region historically known as a stronghold of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party Raila Odinga, who has since teamed up with President William Ruto in a broad-based government arrangement.
Images shared by Nairobi Member of County Assembly (MCA) representing Kileleshwa ward Robert Alai on X captured the electric atmosphere, showing a packed stadium under bright floodlights with attendees donning vibrant attire, including jerseys and jackets.
While seemingly shocked by the attendance, Alai suggested that the night crowd could as well exit the stadium by 6:00 am to pave the way for a fresh crowd that should enter in the morning as the Madaraka Day celebrations kick off.
“The night crowd must exit the stadium at 6AM to usher in the fresh crowd outside. Why stay with one crowd if you can change it? Erourukamano jo Homa Bay. We started this fight when nobody trusted us. Ruto in e rais!” Alai stated.
Gates opened
Thousands of residents were a few minutes past 9:00 pm on Saturday, May 31, 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, and by midnight on Sunday, June 1, it was already full to capacity.
Madaraka Day celebrations
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.
