The Government has settled on Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) as this year’s theme of Madaraka Day Celebrations to be held at the Moi Stadium in Embu County on June 1.
According to Internal Security Principal Secretary, Dr. Raymond Omollo, the initial theme of Universal Health Coverage will be adhered to later in the year during subsequent National Celebrations.
“We have changed the theme for this year’s celebrations from Universal Health Coverage to focus on the SMEs so that we can improve on the economy, which is one of the biggest challenges. So, for the people of Embu, this is another opportunity to look at how we can be able to spur the economy of this county, not just in Embu town,” he said.
PS Omollo was speaking during the second physical tour of Embu County with the National Celebrations Committee, which he chairs. While inspecting the ongoing progress at the Moi Stadium in Embu Town, the PS clarified that
the celebration will no longer be held at Njukiri Grounds. According to him, the change of plan is due to the cost and time constraints that will delay the construction of the stadium that had been conceptualized to host the event.
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The grounds are however currently serving as a workshop for precast slabs for benches among other infrastructure needed in readiness of Moi Stadium.
“We expect that within the next 45 days the structure will be up, and the rest of the amenities put together. Already there is a lot of work going on. Hosting the celebrations at Njukiri would have required an additional two months which we do not have,” said PS Omollo added.
The promise to construct the international stadium is still on course. President William Ruto will have the occasion of groundbreaking the project during his visit as Kenya commemorates its 60th Madaraka Day Celebrations.
Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire, expressed her satisfaction with the
ongoing works ahead of the celebrations to be held in Embu County for the first time.
“We are convinced that with the infrastructure that has been placed right at
Njukiri Grounds, the construction will move quite fast. We are now fully on course and this job should be done in the next one and a half months.”
So far, 95 percent of the workers on site are locals from Embu County. According to the contractor, close to 300 people will be employed at various stages of construction. The facelift of Moi Stadium, Embu County is expected to approximately cost Sh300 million and will be able to host 20,000 guests
