Thousands of Homa Bay County residents and neighbouring counties abandoned the warmth of their homes to claim spots on the cold terraces and plastic chairs at the Raila Odinga Stadium on Saturday night, determined to witness the events of the Madaraka Day celebrations.
By 7pm on Saturday, security was enhanced at the 20,000-capacity stadium. Only those with official accreditation were allowed inside. Uniformed and plainclothes officers patrolled the gates and the terraces, turning away those without accreditation cards.
However, outside the stadium, the crowd swelled. Those turned away earlier merged with latecomers to form a restless mass.
Homa Bay residents who couldn't make it inside the Raila Odinga Stadium followed the Madaraka Day celebrations from one of the mounted screens along the streets of Homa Bay.
Photo credit: Rushdie Oudia| Nation Media Group
Despite the pleas of overwhelmed officers, they surged forward, overwhelming the barriers in a chaotic but determined rush.
Residents of Homa Bay Town gathered at the stadium for Madaraka Day fete.
Photo credit: Alex Odhiambo| Nation Media Group
When gates were finally opened, eager attendees from across the region poured in, scrambling for seats, some even tumbling in the frenzy.
As dawn broke, the stadium was full to capacity, save for the VIP section, cordoned off by hundreds of security personnel.
“The stadium is nearly full on the eve of Madaraka Day,” noted Silas Jakakimba, a Sony Sugar Board member and Homa Bay resident.
“This is a testament to the deep admiration the people have for the President and the government’s achievements.”
Residents of Homa Bay Town gathered at the stadium for Madaraka Day fete.
Photo credit: Alex Odhiambo| Nation Media Group
Even allies of President William Ruto voiced surprise. Dennis Itumbi, head of Creative Economy and Special Projects, shared: “By 1:32 am the stadium was packed and gates closed. I’ve never seen anything like it since chairing the National Holidays Thematic Committee. Pure passion.”
As the night wore on, Homa Bay came alive. Popular nightspots such as 112 Tavern and Oxza pulsed with revelry, offering a spirited prelude to the day’s events. Many locals never slept, staying entertained within the stadium throughout the night.
Homa Bay residents who couldn't make it inside the Raila Odinga Stadium followed the Madaraka Day celebrations from one of the mounted screens along the streets of Homa Bay.
Photo credit: Rushdie Oudia| Nation Media Group
But by 5 am, chaos returned. At the stadium gates, pushing, harassment, and opportunistic theft marred the moment. In the confusion, NTV crew member George Kieru fell victim to a laptop theft while his colleague Mabel Achieng and Royal Media Services journalist Ephantus Maina were injured as they attempted to access the venue.
Nation Media Group and Citizen TV journalists sustain injuries after assault by security officers at the entrance of Raila Odinga Stadium in Homa Bay.
Despite the tension, security presence remained heavy both inside and outside the stadium.
The crowd has remained animated, entertained as they awaited the President’s arrival for the first-ever national Madaraka Day celebration in Homa Bay, a historic moment not just for the county, but the nation.
President William Ruto inspecting the guard of honor at the Raila Odinga Stadium in Homa Bay.
Photo credit: George Odiwuor| Nation Media Group
Dignitaries are also expected in large numbers, including Slovenia’s President Nataša Pirc Musar, signaling the significance of the event on both local and global stages.
