Eldoret City is undergoing a major facelift as preparations intensify for the Mashujaa Day celebrations on October 20.
Several streets have been dug up for the laying of cabro blocks and other beautification works as the city prepares to host thousands of visitors for the national celebrations.
At Kipchoge Keino Stadium, the main venue for the event, construction is about 70 per cent complete, with contractors working around the clock to beat the October 20 deadline.
Preparatory parades involving the military and other security formations are underway at the ASK Showground in Eldoret.
Residents have also been treated to air force rehearsals, with military aircraft practising manoeuvres ahead of the celebrations.
“We are doing our best to make the city ready for Mashujaa Day. We want to make it a success for residents and visitors we will be hosting,” Governor Jonathan Bii said.
Bii has urged residents and the business community to help keep the city clean ahead of the event, which will be co-hosted by Uasin Gishu, Nandi and Elgeyo Marakwet counties.
Hundreds of workers have been deployed to accelerate works in the city and at the stadium, while other teams are overseeing projects that are expected to be commissioned by President William Ruto during his tour of the three counties.
Senior government officials, led by Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen and PS Raymond Omollo, have also been making regular visits to the region to monitor preparations.
Murkomen said the celebrations would provide an opportunity to showcase achievements in sports, security and the finance and economic sectors.
He said several activities had been lined up, including the commissioning of development projects and sports tournaments aimed at ensuring residents across the three counties participate in the celebrations.
“All the projects and activities we have lined up are on course and will be completed in good time ahead of Mashujaa Day,” Murkomen said.
He spoke during a meeting with security chiefs and leaders from the three counties in Eldoret, where the Mashujaa Day sports tournament programme was unveiled.
Governors Bii, Stephen Sang of Nandi and Wisley Rotich of Elgeyo Marakwet, alongside MPs and MCAs from the region, attended the meeting.
Murkomen said about Sh63 million would be spent, mainly on awards for sports tournaments featuring football, volleyball and athletics.
“Sports will be the best way to ensure our people will participate and feel they are part and parcel of the Mashujaa Day celebrations,” he said.
He said the celebrations come at a time the government is giving increased attention to the sports sector.
“We now have the massive investment on sports infrastructure by the government in all parts of the country than ever before,” he said.
Murkomen said 32 sports facilities, particularly stadiums, were under construction across the country, describing the ongoing investment as the result of what he called consistent planning and financing by the Kenya Kwanza administration.
