Mashujaa Day 2026: Eldoret Set For Week-Long National Celebration As North Rift Unveils Grand Programme

Story by Monyonge O’kebati

Preparations for the 2026 Mashujaa Day celebrations have entered an advanced stage, with the government putting in place an elaborate week-long programme combining national celebrations, economic forums, sports, security, investment, exhibitions and cultural activities across the North Rift.

The main celebrations will be held at the Kipchoge Keino Stadium in Eldoret on October 20, 2026, with Uasin Gishu, Nandi and Elgeyo Marakwet serving as co-host counties.

The wider programme is being organised around the themes of finance, sports and security, with organisers seeking to use the national celebrations to showcase the region’s potential while giving Kenyans an opportunity to participate in activities beyond the traditional one-day ceremony.

Government officials say preparations involve national and county government departments, private companies, agencies and other partners who are being brought together to ensure that the celebrations are delivered as one coordinated programme.

National Holidays Move Beyond One-Day Celebrations

Speaking during a stakeholders’ briefing, Dennis Itumbi, chairperson of the National Holidays Thematic Committee and head of Special Projects and the Creative Economy Commission, said national holidays had been deliberately expanded into week-long engagements

Itumbi said the approach was introduced following a decision by President William Ruto in December 2022 to transform national holidays from single-day events into broader programmes that could give counties an opportunity to reflect their identity, achievements and economic potential.

He said each day of the Mashujaa programme would have a particular focus, allowing different sectors and stakeholders to participate.

However, Sikumbi cautioned that the programme presented during the briefing was still subject to changes following a meeting held the previous evening, with organisers expected to release an updated schedule.

Eldoret National Polytechnic To Host Major Expo

One of the major components of the celebrations will be a thematic expo at the Eldoret National Polytechnic.

The expo has been designed as an interactive platform where government ministries, departments, agencies, private-sector companies and other partners will showcase programmes, innovations, opportunities and achievements.

Sikumbi said the purpose of bringing all the agencies and companies together was to ensure that every participant understood what the organisers wanted to achieve and could identify how they would contribute to the event.

The planned Expo 2026 will include an exhibition village with 41 booths, each measuring approximately 3 metres by 3 metres.

The exhibition spaces are expected to provide platforms for showcasing programmes, innovations, opportunities and achievements shaping Kenya’s future.

18 Experiential Booths And 1,000-Seat Arena

The expo will also move beyond conventional exhibition displays through 18 bespoke experiential booths.

The organisers want participating ministries and agencies to take ownership of their respective zones and create interactive experiences rather than simply putting up information panels.

The concept is intended to turn the expo into a journey of exploration, engagement, storytelling and discovery.

The main experiential section will include a 1,000-capacity plenary arena, complete with a stage, LED screen, sound system and production infrastructure.

The setup will also have three dedicated VIP holding booths near the entrance to facilitate protocol arrangements for senior guests.

The organisers have challenged participating institutions to make their displays engaging and memorable, with the expectation that visitors will interact with the programmes and innovations being showcased.

Two-Day Economic Conference

Another major feature of the programme will be a two-day high-level economic conference focusing on the country’s economic progress and future direction.

According to the programme presented by the National Holidays Thematic Committee, the conference will provide a platform to discuss the achievements of the administration on the economy and the country’s development outlook.

The first evening is scheduled to feature a presidential town hall hosted and presented by President William Ruto.

The second day will focus on discussions around Kenya beyond 2030, with the session expected to be led by the President and moderated by the Principal Secretary responsible for economic planning.

The economic component is expected to bring together government officials, private-sector players and other stakeholders.

Sports To Take Mashujaa Celebrations To The Grassroots

Sports will occupy a central position in this year’s celebrations, with competitions planned from the grassroots level through to inter-county events.

The government has already launched the Mashujaa Day Champions Edition, a sporting programme bringing together the three co-hosting counties.

The tournament features athletics, volleyball and football and is designed to involve communities from ward level upwards. The government has set aside Sh63 million in prize money for the competition.

The programme is intended not only to add a sporting dimension to Mashujaa Day but also to identify emerging talent and encourage peace and cohesion among communities.

The grassroots competitions are scheduled to progress through successive stages, with ward finals on September 26, sub-county finals on October 3 and county finals on October 11.

The inter-county competitions will then be staged in the participating counties.

Elgeyo Marakwet will host the marathon finals on October 18, while Nandi will host the volleyball finals on October 19.

The football finals will be staged in Uasin Gishu as part of the activities leading to the national celebrations.

Sports Infrastructure Gets Major Boost

The Mashujaa preparations have also accelerated investment in sports infrastructure across the North Rift.

The Kipchoge Keino Stadium in Eldoret is being upgraded to an international-standard 15,000-seat facility and is expected to host the main national celebrations.

The facility is being developed with modern amenities, including VIP facilities, changing rooms and other infrastructure required for major sporting events.

In Nandi, the Kapsabet Stadium is also undergoing construction, alongside other infrastructure projects.

Government officials have said the sports facilities in Eldoret, Kapsabet and Iten will create a network capable of supporting major sporting events and athlete development in the region.

Kamariny Stadium Remains Part Of The Wider Programme

Although the main Mashujaa Day ceremony was moved to Eldoret, Kamariny Stadium in Iten, Elgeyo Marakwet, remains an important part of the infrastructure programme.

The relocation of the main ceremony from Kamariny to Kipchoge Keino Stadium followed concerns over the pace of construction at the Iten facility.

The government has nevertheless continued with the stadium project, with officials saying it will provide an important facility for athletes in the region.

Recent government assessments put Kamariny Stadium at about 50 per cent completion.

Finance And Investment On The Agenda

Finance will form another major pillar of the celebrations.

The thematic programme is expected to use the expo and economic conference to showcase investment opportunities, financial programmes and initiatives aimed at strengthening economic participation.

The organisers want private companies and government agencies to use the platform to demonstrate how their programmes can contribute to national prosperity.

This will also provide businesses and investors with an opportunity to engage with government officials and other stakeholders during the week-long celebrations.

Security To Receive Special Attention

Security is the third major pillar of the 2026 programme.

Activities linked to security are expected to be spread across the three counties, with the organisers seeking to use the celebrations to promote safety, peace and cohesion.

The large number of visitors expected in Eldoret and other participating areas has also prompted authorities to strengthen coordination between security, health, emergency response and county departments.

The health sector in Uasin Gishu has already held preparedness meetings involving public and private health facilities to establish emergency response arrangements for the October 20 event.

Eldoret Gets A Facelift

The City of Eldoret is also undergoing preparations ahead of the national celebrations.

The county government has assigned various departments responsibilities covering street cleaning, painting, branding, street lighting, road rehabilitation, entertainment, public health and ambulance services.

The exercise is intended to improve the appearance of the city while ensuring that roads, public spaces and essential services are ready for the influx of visitors.

Road improvement projects are also being undertaken in parts of the three counties as part of the broader preparations.

Government officials have cited road works in Eldoret, Kapsabet, Nandi Hills and Iten among the projects being undertaken ahead of the celebrations.

Culture And Creative Economy

Culture and the creative economy are also expected to feature prominently.

The celebrations provide an opportunity for musicians, performers, artists and other creatives from the region to participate in the national programme.

Auditions and other preparations have been undertaken to identify creatives who will feature in the celebrations, according to government officials.

The approach is intended to ensure that Mashujaa Day reflects not only government programmes and infrastructure but also the cultural identity and creative talent of the host region.

A Showcase Beyond October 20

While October 20 remains the climax, organisers are presenting Mashujaa Day 2026 as a much broader national engagement.

The week is expected to combine the national ceremony with economic discussions, exhibitions, sports competitions, cultural performances, investment opportunities and security-related activities.

The Expo at Eldoret National Polytechnic will provide the central platform for ministries, agencies and private-sector partners to showcase their work, while activities in Uasin Gishu, Nandi and Elgeyo Marakwet will take the celebrations closer to communities.

For the host counties, the event is also expected to provide a platform to showcase their infrastructure, sporting talent, investment opportunities and development programmes.

With the national ceremony now less than a month away, government agencies, county administrations, contractors, businesses and other stakeholders are moving into the final phase of preparations for what is set to be a major national event in Eldoret.

The 2026 Mashujaa Day celebrations will culminate on October 20 at Kipchoge Keino Stadium, while the wider programme will continue to involve communities and institutions across the three North Rift counties.