Raila Odinga Stadium reaches full capacity by midnight ahead of Madaraka Day
The atmosphere was vibrant, with colour and excitement filling the venue as people gathered for the historic occasion.
The Raila Odinga Stadium in Homa Bay, with a capacity of 20,000, was packed to the brim by midnight on Saturday, May 31, 2025, as enthusiastic crowds poured in ahead of the 62nd Madaraka Day celebrations.
The atmosphere was vibrant, with colour and excitement filling the venue as people gathered for the historic occasion.
This marks the first time Homa Bay is hosting the national celebrations, an event of great significance for a region long recognized as a political stronghold of the ODM party, led by Raila Odinga.
Notably, Odinga has since joined forces with President William Ruto in a wide-reaching government partnership.
Photos posted on X by Nairobi MCA for Kileleshwa Ward, Robert Alai, captured the electric vibe of the event.
The images show a fully packed stadium illuminated by bright floodlights, with attendees dressed in colorful outfits, including jerseys and jackets.
Alai suggested that the evening crowd should leave the stadium by 6:00 AM to make way for a new group of attendees arriving for the Madaraka Day celebrations in the morning.
“The night crowd must leave the stadium at 6 AM to welcome the fresh crowd outside. Why stay with one crowd when you can rotate? Erourukamano jo Homa Bay. (Translation: Thank you! Homabay people)," said Alai.
"We began this struggle when no one believed in us. Ruto is the president!"
Just after 9:00 pm on Saturday, May 31, thousands of residents were already settling into their seats at the newly renovated stadium, which is set to welcome several leaders, including President William Ruto, for the celebrations on Sunday, June 1, 2025.
Initial reports revealed that security personnel stationed at the venue had to open the gates around 9:30 pm to allow residents, some of whom had been waiting in line since 7 pm, to enter.
Online videos captured the Raila Odinga Stadium approximately half full by 10:30 pm on Saturday, May 31, 2025, and completely packed to capacity by midnight as Sunday, June 1, began.
The Raila Odinga Stadium will host this year’s Madaraka Day celebrations, a national holiday marking Kenya’s attainment of self-rule in 1963.
Slovenian President Pirc Musar, currently on a historic state visit to Kenya, is set to be the guest of honour at the event in Homa Bay.
