- Wajir will make history this year when it hosts Kenya’s Independence Day celebrations for the first time since independence
- Preparations are well underway, with a new 10,000 capacity stadium and major infrastructure improvements underway to welcome thousands of visitors
- The June 1 event is planned to highlight the region, leaving lasting progress and national pride
Wajir County is set to make history this year after the national government confirmed that the area will host the country’s Independence Day celebrations for the first time since independence.
Source: Twitter
Preparations for the national celebration are already underway, with Home Secretary Raymond Omollo leading a high-level government delegation to inspect ongoing construction works at the stadium that will host the June 1 celebrations.
The inspection marked the beginning of a phase of intense preparations as authorities raced to complete key infrastructure projects ahead of the national event.
Omollo was accompanied by Defense Secretary Patrick Mariru and Air and Space Development Secretary Teresia Mbaika during the launch inspection visit.
In the middle of the preparations there is a stadium with a capacity to accommodate 10,000 people which is currently being built in the city of Wajir.
Engineers and contractors provided information to the delegation about the progress of the project, schedule and plans to achieve the standards required for the national celebration.
Speaking after inspecting the site, Omollo said contractors have been ordered to work round the clock to ensure the facility is completed on time.
“This will be a historic moment for Wajir and the wider North East region. Organizing Empowerment Day here shows that every part of Kenya is important in our national journey,” he said.
Infrastructure improvements are underway
Apart from the stadium, the government is also improving the necessary transport infrastructure to serve the visitors who are expected to travel to the area for the celebrations.
Works are underway at the Wajir International Airport, including improvements to the terminal building, runway and taxiway to increase efficiency and ease movement during the national event.
The preparations also include the renovation of the County Commissioner’s residence before the traditional Government lunch hosted by the President William Ruto on the Day of Power.
Important moment
Independence Day commemorates Kenya’s attainment of self-government on June 1, 1963, an important moment in the country’s journey to full independence.
This year’s festivities will mark the 63rd anniversary of that historic event.
According to Omollo, moving the national celebrations to Wajir shows the government’s policy of rotating important national events in different parts of the country to promote national integration and solidarity.
The Secretary General said the preparations are expected to leave a lasting impact on development in the area through improved infrastructure, job opportunities and increased national visibility.
“Beyond the festivals themselves, this investment will benefit local communities for years to come,” he said.
The event is expected to attract thousands of Kenyans, senior government officials and celebrities from across the country, turning Wajir into the center of national attention on June 1.
In other news, Ruto recently announced that the 2026 Kisii County Republic Day celebrations will be held at the Gusii Stadium, which is currently undergoing renovation and expansion.
Source: Facebook
In January, the president announced at Gusii Stadium, while distributing Nyota program funds to Kisii, Migori, and Nyamira counties, that the 2026 Republic Day celebrations will be held there.
He explained that the move was aimed at promoting regional growth and ensuring national celebrations are shared in different areas.
The hosting rights were granted following a request from Kisii Governor Simba Arati, who said that hosting the event on December 12 would strengthen the local economy and speed up infrastructure and service delivery.
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