Kenya’s government invested a total of 946 million Kenyan shillings to prepare for the 61st Madaraka Day festivities, scheduled to take place in Bungoma County on June 1.
Isaac Mwaura, the spokesperson for the Kenyan government, said in an announcement that millions of dollars were employed to restore and prepare essential infrastructure, such as the Masinde Muliro Stadium, in advance of the celebration.
According to Mwaura, the first phase of the stadium, which can accommodate 40,000 people, received the vast majority of the funding.
The statement expressed the government’s dedication to enhancing the region’s social services and infrastructure. The announcement emphasised, in part, the completion of Phase I of the Masinde Muliro project in Kanduyi Sub-county, which had a total cost of Ksh807 million.
With that being said, the government also invested 139 million Kenyan shillings in order to make the Matulo Airstrip easier to build.
Mwaura stated that the majority of the work involved restoring the airstrip, preparing it for use by commercial planes upon its official public opening.
The Masinde Muliro project’s second phase, which includes building access passes, perimeter fences, and terraces, is almost complete and will cost an additional 790 million Kenyan shillings.
“Educational investments, such as the development of an engineering and TVET complex at Masinde Muliro University, demonstrate the government’s ongoing commitment towards enhancing opportunities for quality education,” Mwaura said further.
Bungoma County will be the venue for the Madaraka Day festivities in 2024. President William Ruto will direct the gathering.
Ruto is also expected to reveal several projects that will be conducted in the sector, headed by Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi. The event is going to have a theme that revolves around agriculture.
“As we commemorate Madaraka Day, we pay tribute to the aspirations of our ancestors and pledge to ensure that our future is filled with unending wealth. In addition to presenting our vision for the future, which is in line with the BETA agenda codified in Medium Term Plan 4, President Ruto is going to emphasize the noteworthy achievements that have been achieved in agriculture and food security.
He told reporters, “Previously, the country’s economy has strengthened, and the GDP expansion is substantially attributable to a resurgence in the agricultural field.”