Why Homa Bay is hosting Madaraka Day celebrations for the first time in history - Mwaura

Homa Bay County will make history on June 1, 2025, as it hosts Madaraka Day celebrations for the first time, a decision the government says is a deliberate nod to the region’s centrality in Kenya’s Blue Economy vision.

Speaking at Tom Mboya University on Saturday 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.

The newly commissioned 12,000-seater Raila Odinga Stadium will serve as the venue for the national fete. Dr. Mwaura hailed the facility as a symbol of equitable development and the fruits of devolution, constructed at a cost of Ksh.500 million.

Beyond the ceremony, Homa Bay has undergone a visible facelift in infrastructure.

“Over 35 kilometers of roads, including the Homa Bay Pier–Stadium Road and access to the County Government Headquarters in Arujo, have been rehabilitated or built,” Dr. Mwaura noted, alongside the ongoing upgrade of Kabunde Airstrip and other transport links expected to boost tourism and trade.

Lake Victoria’s role in the local economy also took center stage, with a government push towards sustainable fisheries and aquaculture.

“The development of fish landing sites, such as Wakula, Mainuga, and Nyadhiwa in Homa Bay County, at a cost of Ksh1.5 billion, is underway,” the spokesperson announced.

Support to small-scale farmers through the Aquaculture Business Development Programme (ABDP) and ongoing construction of a Fisheries and Aquaculture Service and Training Centre of Excellence in Kabonyo further underline the region’s positioning as a blue economy hub.

Meanwhile, the Madaraka Day build-up has triggered a tourism and business boom. “Local businesses, from hotels to food kiosks, are thriving as visitors arrive,” said Dr. Mwaura.

The government also highlighted future plans to expand training in aquaculture and maritime technology through the Maritime Centre of Excellence at Tom Mboya University, backed by presidential commitment.

In a reflection of the significance of the event, Dr. Mwaura quoted Governor Gladys Wanga, saying: “Hosting Madaraka Day is a ‘devolution blessing’ for Homa Bay.” He called on Kenyans to join the celebration and embrace the blue economy’s potential.

“The government, in collaboration with the County Government of Homa Bay, the Ministry of Interior, and the State Department for the Blue Economy and Fisheries, has laid a strong foundation for sustainable growth,” he concluded.