Uproar greets decision to shift Mashujaa Day national fete from Iten to Eldoret

Uproar has greeted a decision to move the 2026 Mashujaa Day national celebrations from Kamariny Stadium in Elgeyo Marakwet to Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County.

Furious Elgeyo Marakwet locals have for the last one week been expressing displeasure with the change of venue of the October 20 national function which had been scheduled for Kamariny Stadium, which is currently still under construction.

The sudden shift of venue from Elgeyo Marakwet to Uasin Gishu was reportedly made by President William Ruto on Monday July 13.

Before the Monday decision, Uasin Gishu governor Jonathan Bii had indicated on July 10 that his county had won the hosting rights for this year’s Mashujaa Day celebrations.

But his Elgeyo Marakwet counterpart Wisley Rotich said two days later that he was not aware of the changes.

Angry locals have however maintained that Iten town was shortchanged yet its business community was ready to host the nation.

Residents also took to social media to express their disappointment with the decision, saying it was made without any valid reason.

On Saturday, the decision exposed a sharp difference between Governor Rotich and his deputy Grace Cheserek.

This is after Prof Cheserek declared her support for the planned parallel in Kamariny while her boss is calling for the respect of the President who caused the change of venue.

Iten resident Stephen Korat said the government had no reason to shift the venue to Eldoret.

Korat said it was possible for the government to upgrade Kamariny Stadium in readiness for the national event.

“Wajir Stadium was constructed in a record three months to host Madaraka Day in May, we want the same energy to be applied in the construction of Kamariny to host Mashujaa Day in October,” said Mr Korat.

He said Elgeyo Marakwet will not travel to Eldoret for Mashujaa Day but will instead stage their parallel event in Kamariny in protest of the decision.

“We know that buses will be sent to Iten to ferry us to Uasin Gishu. We will not board those buses. He said elected leaders who will not attend the parallel rally in Kamariny will face the wrath of the electorate in next year’s election,” he claimed.

Prof Cheserek, apologized to Elgeyo Marakwet residents for the sudden change in venue.

“I want to say sorry to the people of Elgeyo Marakwet. We are saddened by the change of venue. I’m among those people who have declared that if the venue is shifted to Uasin Gishu, we will have a parallel Mashujaa Day at Kamariny Stadium,” the Deputy Governor said.

A resident warned during a forum in Iten that locals will invite opposition figures led by Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua to the planned parallel Mashujaa Day celebrations if the decision to move it to Iten is not reversed.

Governor Rotich has been at pains to explain the sudden change of venue.

He was booed in Iten on Saturday evening as he explained the shift of venue from his county to the neighboring Uasin Gishu.

But Mr Rotich insisted that he was disappointed by the decision just like locals.

“I was prepared as the host governor to welcome the entire country to Elgeyo Marakwet in October. I had held a series of meetings with the business community. If you look at counties that have hosted national celebrations, you realize that I am the governor who started preparations early and submitted reports early,” the Governor said.

He added: “I have not slept in the last one week trying to find answers to give to residents.”

Rotich said he was officially informed of the decision to shift the venue to Eldoret during the Statehouse meeting last week.

“I was invited to Statehouse, Nairobi alongside leaders from Uasin Gishu and Nandi and I was not aware that changing Mashujaa Day venue was one of the agendas.

“During the meeting we were informed that the event will be co-hosted by the three counties. We had initially received unofficial reports that the venue had changed. I explained that the people of Elgeyo Marakwet were eagerly waiting to welcome guests,” said Mr Rotich.

After the decision was made, Rotich said he requested the completion of Kamariny Stadium within the stipulated period before October this year) and the request was granted.

Rotich defended himself against accusations of failing to push to push for cancellation of the decision to change the venue, saying it was the prerogative of the President to decide venues for national functions.

“I’m hurting like other locals. I share their concerns as their governor and I asked why the venue was changed and I was told that the reasons would be shared at a later date,” he said.

The Governor has recently been seeking support for the change of venue in local joints including pool tables.

According to Rotich, the decision to shift the venue to Eldoret was made to accommodate diverse communities in Uasin Gishu.

“Elgeyo Marakwet could not defy the President’s directive since he had appointed a CS and a PS from a Elgeyo Marakwet County that only has 214,000 votes,” he told youth playing pool in Iten.

He urged Elgeyo Marakwet residents to respect President Ruto for helping to restore peace in Kerio Valley.

“You normally send me to the President for a number of projects including a new University in Tambach and he has respected us and he is the one who has decided to change the venue. I felt that defying him would be disrespectful,” he said.

 Uasin Gishu County executive Robert Kemei said on July 10 that stalled 64 Stadium in Eldoret will be completed in 70 days in readiness for the Mashujaa Day fete.

Sports Kenya said last month that Kipchoge Stadium will be complete by the end of December.