Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has said it is both befitting and deeply symbolic that this year’s Mashujaa Day is being marked just a day after the burial of political icon Raila Odinga.
Speaking to journalists upon arrival at the new Ithookwe Stadium in Kitui County, CS Murkomen described the late former Prime Minister as one of Kenya’s greatest heroes.
“While this year’s Mashujaa Day theme is ‘Transforming Lives through Sustainable Energy Solutions,’ the shadow of Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga inevitably looms large, especially since we are still within the official mourning period,” he said.
The CS praised the late Raila’s contributions as a former Cabinet Minister, noting that his first ministerial appointment under the Moi administration was in the Energy docket—where he made a lasting impact as a passionate conservationist. Murkomen added that this year’s Mashujaa Day theme aligns perfectly with Odinga’s lifelong advocacy for sustainable energy and environmental stewardship.
Preparations for this year’s celebrations were significantly subdued by the passing of Mr. Odinga, who died in an Indian hospital where he was receiving treatment.
Following the veteran opposition leader’s death, President William Ruto cancelled his five-day tour and a series of public events planned across the Ukambani region. The tour had been set to cover Kitui, Machakos, and Makueni counties, culminating in the Mashujaa Day celebrations in Kitui.
The President was scheduled to begin his visit on Wednesday, October 15, with the launch of a road project in Mwingi West constituency. However, all events were called off, dampening the high spirits that had surrounded the upcoming national holiday.
At Kwa Siku Market, where Dr. Ruto was expected to launch the tarmacking of the Kwa Siku–Mbondoni Road, preparations had been finalized. The presidential protocol and security teams had already laid out the red carpet in anticipation of his arrival, and advance teams—led by Eastern Regional Commissioner Paul Rotich alongside several Kenya Kwanza MPs—had already landed at the venue.
With Dr. Ruto issuing a presidential proclamation suspending all public engagements for seven days, national focus shifted to the 72-hour marathon of state-led preparations to give Mr. Odinga a dignified send-off.
CS Murkomen also commended the government’s tradition of rotating national celebrations across different counties, saying it helps to spur regional development.
“As you are aware, major infrastructural projects often accompany these celebrations—not to mention the business opportunities they create for local communities,” he added.
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