Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports, Salim Mvurya, On Tuesday October 14th, officially handed over the newly built Ithookwe Kitui Stadium to the National Celebrations Steering Committee, marking a key milestone in preparations for this year’s Mashujaa Day celebrations scheduled for October 20, 2025, in Kitui County.

During the handover ceremony, CS Mvurya hailed the swift completion of the 10,000-seater facility, describing it as a significant achievement delivered within just five months under a presidential directive.

“This handover marks a significant milestone not just for the Ministry, but for the entire nation, as we prepare to celebrate Mashujaa Day in a modern stadium that reflects our national pride and aspirations,” he said.

The stadium was handed over to the committee in a joint ceremony attended by Kitui Governor Dr. Julius Malombe, Kitui County Commissioner Kipchumba Rutto, and the Secretary of Administration in the Ministry of Interior, Duncan Makori, who represented Interior PS Dr. Raymond Omollo, the Chair of the National Celebrations Committee.

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CS Mvurya confirmed that while the stadium is ready for the national celebration, more enhancements are planned to elevate it to international standards. These include the installation of tartan tracks, upgrading the pitch with international-grade grass, and improving key amenities. “Our long-term vision is to transform Ithookwe Stadium into a venue capable of hosting national and international sporting events,” Mvurya added.

He praised the strong collaboration between national and county government entities, crediting inter-agency cooperation particularly from the Ministries of Roads, Energy, and Interior for the timely delivery of the project.

“The support from the County Government of Kitui and local leadership has been instrumental. This achievement reflects what can be accomplished when all levels of government work together,” he said.

Mvurya also noted that final touches were being completed by the contractor, adding that preparations were fully on track for the historic Mashujaa Day celebration.

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Governor Dr. Julius Malombe, who joined the CS at the event, welcomed the transformation of the stadium as a major development milestone for the county. He expressed his gratitude to President William Ruto for selecting Kitui as the host for this year’s national celebration. “We are honoured to host this year’s Mashujaa Day, the first-ever national event of this magnitude to be held in Kitui,” said Governor Malombe. “The stadium is ready, and I call upon Kitui residents and Kenyans from all corners of the country to come out in large numbers to honour our national heroes and heroines.”

The revamped stadium is expected to host thousands of Kenyans on October 20, commemorating the nation’s journey to self-rule and reaffirming the government’s commitment to inclusive and equitable development across the country.

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