Kenya Insights

Tag: Homa Bay

  • PHOTOS: Raila Odinga Stadium in Homa Bay Filled By Midnight Ahead of Madaraka Day

    PHOTOS: Raila Odinga Stadium in Homa Bay Filled By Midnight Ahead of Madaraka Day

    Thousands of enthusiastic residents packed the newly constructed venue as the county prepares to host Kenya’s national celebrations for the first time

    HOMA BAY – The newly constructed Raila Odinga Stadium witnessed scenes of unprecedented excitement Saturday night as thousands of residents flocked to the venue, filling the 20,000-seat facility to capacity just before midnight ahead of today’s historic Madaraka Day celebrations.

    The remarkable turnout forced authorities to close all stadium gates as crowds continued streaming in, with dramatic videos circulating on social media showing the massive concrete bowl filled to the brim with eager spectators. Many residents who couldn’t secure entry continued gathering outside the perimeter, testament to the county’s enthusiasm for hosting Kenya’s 62nd Madaraka Day celebrations.

    Historic First for Homa Bay

    This marks the first time Homa Bay County has been selected to host the national Madaraka Day event, a milestone that residents have embraced with overwhelming pride. The celebrations, themed “Our Water, Our Wealth: Harnessing Kenya’s Blue Economy for Sustainable Economic Development,” strategically highlight the county’s position on the shores of Lake Victoria.

    Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura, speaking at Tom Mboya University Saturday, emphasized the deliberate choice of Homa Bay as the venue. “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, which places the Blue Economy and Maritime affairs at the heart of sustainable development,” he stated.

    Sh500 Million Investment Bears Fruit

    The impressive scenes at the stadium represent the culmination of significant government investment in the region. The Raila Odinga Stadium, constructed at a cost of Sh500 million, stands as what Mwaura described as “a symbol of equitable development and the fruits of devolution.”

    Beyond the stadium construction, the government has undertaken extensive infrastructural upgrades in preparation for the celebrations. More than 35 kilometers of roads have been rehabilitated or newly constructed, including the crucial Homa Bay Pier-Stadium Road and access routes to the county government headquarters in Arojo. The ongoing upgrade of Kabunde Airstrip further demonstrates the comprehensive approach to preparing the region for this significant event.

    Blue Economy Takes Center Stage

    The choice of Homa Bay aligns perfectly with the government’s focus on the Blue Economy, leveraging the county’s strategic position on Africa’s largest lake. The administration is investing Sh1.5 billion in developing fish landing sites in Wakula, Mainuga, and Nyadhiwa within Homa Bay County.

    Local businesses have already begun experiencing the economic ripple effects, with hotels and food establishments reporting increased activity as visitors arrive for the celebrations. The government has also announced plans for a Maritime Centre of Excellence at Tom Mboya University, backed by presidential support, to expand training in aquaculture and maritime technology.

    High-Profile Attendance Expected

    Ruto and Raila having a hearty laugh while on tour in Homa Bay.
    Ruto and Raila having a hearty laugh while on tour in Homa Bay.

    Today’s celebrations will draw Kenya’s top leadership, including President William Ruto, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo, and Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi.

    Governor Gladys Wanga has described hosting the event as a “devolution blessing” for Homa Bay, reflecting the pride and significance the county attaches to this unprecedented opportunity.

    Economic Transformation Agenda

    The celebrations serve as a practical demonstration of the Kenya Kwanza government’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda, with the Blue Economy positioned as a key pillar for sustainable development. Small-scale farmers are receiving support through the Aquaculture Business Development Programme, while a Fisheries and Aquaculture Service and Training Centre of Excellence is under construction in Kabonyo.

    As Homa Bay prepares to take center stage in Kenya’s national consciousness, the scenes of thousands gathering at the Raila Odinga Stadium before midnight underscore the county’s readiness to showcase its potential as a hub for the Blue Economy and a model for regional development.

    The packed stadium serves not just as a venue for celebration, but as a symbol of Homa Bay’s emergence as a significant player in Kenya’s economic transformation narrative.

    The Madaraka Day celebrations begin at 10:00 AM at the Raila Odinga Stadium, with live broadcasts available on national television and radio stations.

  • Governor Awiti In Hot Soup Over Stalled Sh360 Million Homa Bay Stadium Project

    Governor Awiti In Hot Soup Over Stalled Sh360 Million Homa Bay Stadium Project

    In 2014, HomaBay County set aside a budget of sh200 million to construct a much-hyped ultra-modern 9,000-capacity Homa Bay Stadium that, was supposed to be build from scratch. 5 years ago, After a groundbreaking ceremony, the only thing to show for the project a dormant dirt-stinging, iron sheet fenced area filled with craters created by excavation machines.

    According to the Homa Bay County’s executive for sports, Fredrick Odero, in the financial year 2014-2015 the devolved unit set aside Sh200m for the project that would occupy about 4.5 acres. Another Sh160m was allocated for the stadium construction this financial year.

    The retired Auditor General Edward Ouko in January released a report revealing that one of the contractors was paid despite not completing work contracted to do. The contractor, Manjano Enterprises Limited, was to build a perimeter wall and related works for the stadium at a cost of Sh28million.

    However, the firm was paid Sh5million but failed to complete the work, and in fact, they moved away from the site.

    “The contractor had erected columns (pillars) covering half of the stadium’s perimeter only but thereafter abandoned the site,” indicated the report.

    The construction works resumed on July 5 this year with authorities in the region saying that the project will now be finalized in the next one and a half years.

    “We hope that work on this facility that resumed about two months ago and is estimated to take one and half years to complete will proceed well amid the teething problems raised by National Environment Management Authority (Nema). We are determined to ensure that work on this project is not interfered with or delayed,” said Odero.

    Our background checks revealed that the project had been initially stopped by NEMA for failing to meet the set standards and comply with the regulations set by the environment management agency.

    The main contractor, Six-Eleven Energy Limited, has only carried out site clearance, construction of office store and demolition of the existing structures. Even the iron sheet perimeter wall is half complete.

    According to the county officials, the stadium will be oval-shaped with two wings – north and south. Each wing has a 2,000 capacity stand alongside a VIP pavilion with a capacity of 3,000, terrace with 2,000 people. The playing surface was to have an artificial carpet.

    Other features are an eight lanes tartan track, modern changing rooms and underground offices. However, no artistic impression or the project blueprint of the sports structure is available for perusal raising a red flag.

    In their defense, the Homa Bay county government has however announced that it will only concentrate on the main stadium before considering constructing the other facilities. Odero hinted that they will seek financial help from the private sector and the national government after completion of phase one which will involve putting up of the main pavilion and the artificial turf.

    “We will finalize phase one and later use it as a display to ask for assistance from potential well-wishers as the funds we have are not enough. We will not start any other project until this one has been finalized. However, we have long term plans to construct three other sports facilities at the sub-county level,” said the county’s director for sports Francis Guma.

    The region comprises eight sub-counties which have been clustered into three regions where other stadiums will be constructed according to Guma.

    “By 2022, we hope we will be able to improve the other three facilities which I cannot refer to as stadiums but medium-size sub-county sports facilities,” he said.

    No sports facility in Homa Bay meets the minimum requirement laid down the Kenyan Premier League to host its fixtures.

    Construction work at Homa Bay Stadium remains the key pillar not only to the development but also supporting and uplifting the sports culture in the lakeside county that majority of the youths suffer in absolute poverty.

  • Kenya Rolls Out First Malaria Vaccine In Homa Bay

    Kenya Rolls Out First Malaria Vaccine In Homa Bay

    From Today, the world’s first malaria vaccine is being rolled out in parts of Kenya in a routine vaccination schedule, and more than 300,000 children are expected to receive the vaccine over the next three years according to the ministry of health.

    From WHO records, Malaria kills more than 400,000 people globally each year- mostly children. Global Health Correspondent Tulip Mazumdar reports have also backed up the reports.

    Malaria is a top killer of children under five throughout African, and the vaccine is critically important to its efforts to combat the disease because other measures such as mosquito nets have not proven adequate, the director-general of Kenya’s health ministry, Wekesa Masasabi, told media.

    “We still have an incidence of 27per cent (malaria infection) for children under five,” Masasabi said before Friday’s launch of the vaccine in the western county of Homa Bay.

    The Homa Bay program was the government’s first step toward creating awareness of the new vaccine, according to the director-general of Kenya’s health ministry, Wekesa Masasabi.

    African nations Ghana and Malawi launched their pilot programs of the vaccine earlier this year. Kenya plans to roll out the vaccine to eight of its 47 counties over the next two years, Masasabi said.

    Malaria can be eradicated within a generation, global health experts said in a major report last weekend that was commissioned by The Lancet medical journal. The Lancet report contradicted the conclusions last month of a malaria review by the World Health Organization, and its experts urged the WHO not to shy away from this goal of epic proportions.