President William Ruto on Thursday, May 29, 2025, commenced a comprehensive tour of the Nyanza region in the lead-up to the Madaraka Day celebrations, scheduled for June 1 at the newly renamed Raila Odinga Stadium in Homa Bay County.
This year’s national celebration will focus on the theme “Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs”, highlighting the sector’s growing importance to Kenya’s economic future.
President Ruto has made several visits to the Nyanza region since last year as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen ties with the area and promote his administration’s development agenda.
However, reports indicate a planned leaders’ meeting in Migori County was shelved amid local political tensions. The President had been expected to kick off his Thursday itinerary with a leaders’ engagement at the Sony Sugar Grounds in Migori, focusing on national-county collaboration and development priorities. The meeting was notably absent from the day’s revised schedule.
Instead, President Ruto traveled to Kisumu, where he unveiled a newly completed affordable housing project developed by LapFund. Nearby, another large-scale housing initiative spearheaded by the national government—consisting of 1,300 units—is nearing completion and transforming the city’s skyline.
Following his Kisumu engagement, the President proceeded to Ndhiwa Constituency in Homa Bay County. His visit included several development milestones: a tour of the Gor Mahia Ring Road, the launch of a Sh2 billion Last Mile Electricity project, and the groundbreaking for a new Technical Training Institute (TTI), aimed at expanding access to technical education and empowering local youth.
President Ruto is expected to spend the night at the Homa Bay State Lodge.
On Friday, May 30, he will preside over the closing ceremony of the Blue Economy Conference at Tom Mboya University (TMU), where he will also commission a new university building. Additionally, he will launch the Kenya School of Law (KSL) and TMU Maritime Centre of Excellence—an initiative to train professionals to support Kenya’s expanding Blue Economy.
Later in the day, the President will tour the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) pier, visit a local fish market, inspect ongoing infrastructure projects, and visit the new Rangwe Sub-County headquarters.
On Saturday, May 31, President Ruto is scheduled to host a meeting with Homa Bay leaders at the State Lodge starting at 4:00 p.m.
The spotlight will then turn to Homa Bay on Sunday, June 1, when the President leads the nation in celebrating Madaraka Day at Raila Odinga Stadium. Following the ceremony, he will attend a state luncheon before visiting the MFA Wire Forest in Kasipul.
This marks the first time Madaraka Day will be commemorated at the upgraded Raila Odinga Stadium. The stadium has undergone major renovations, including new public terraces, a refurbished pavilion, expanded parking, and a reinforced perimeter wall.
In preparation for the celebrations, over 35 kilometres of roads in the area are being improved by KeNHA, KeRRA, and KURA.
Ahead of the President’s visit, Cabinet Secretary for Mining and Blue Economy Hassan Joho led a government delegation in Homa Bay on Wednesday, May 28. He launched new offices for the Achich Beach Management Unit and distributed fishing gear to local fishermen as part of efforts to boost the blue economy.
“We are inviting everyone to join us in marking Madaraka Day. The President will be here, and I urge all residents to come out in large numbers to welcome him,” said Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga.
