Preparations for the 2026 Mashujaa Day celebrations at Kipchoge Keino Stadium are boosting business and creating employment opportunities for Eldoret residents, with traders reporting increased customer traffic as work continues ahead of Tuesday’s national event.
The preparations have increased activity around the stadium, benefiting businesses and providing income opportunities for workers involved in various tasks to ready the venue for the celebrations scheduled for October 20.
Marka Shalo, one of the traders benefiting from the preparations, said the increased activity around the stadium had boosted his business as more people visited the area.
The national celebrations have also drawn excitement from residents, with Fatima Barbara expressing her delight at seeing Eldoret, popularly known as the Home of Champions, host the annual event.
Beyond the immediate boost to businesses, the preparations have created employment opportunities for workers involved in completing the stadium. Some workers say they have earned an income through the jobs, providing a source of livelihood as the city prepares to welcome visitors.
Residents have also praised the government's efforts to complete the stadium, with some pointing to frequent inspection visits by Dr Raymond Omollo, Principal Secretary in the State Department for Internal Security and National Administration, to assess progress.
The activity surrounding the venue has raised hopes that the benefits of hosting Mashujaa Day will extend beyond the national celebrations. Residents expect the stadium to help attract tourists, international visitors and major sporting competitions to Eldoret, creating further opportunities for local businesses.
Some residents are also looking ahead to the possibility of Eldoret hosting Confederation of African Football (CAF) competitions in 2027, saying major sporting events could bring more visitors and generate additional business and employment opportunities.
However, as the city prepares for the national event, authorities have also issued a warning against individuals who may attempt to take advantage of the celebrations to break the law.
Rift Valley Regional Commissioner Abdi Hassan assured residents and visitors that security agencies were prepared to maintain order, saying areas of concern had been covered ahead of the celebrations.
“Let nobody mistake the celebrations, or the festive atmosphere for an opportunity to break the law. We are fully prepared. All areas of concern are comprehensively covered,” Hassan said.
His remarks come as Eldoret prepares to host the national celebrations at Kipchoge Keino Stadium, with increased activity expected around the venue as residents and visitors gather for the event.
For the traders and workers already benefiting from the preparations, the immediate impact has been increased business and opportunities to earn an income.
Residents hope that the investment in the stadium and the attention brought by Mashujaa Day will continue to attract visitors, sporting events and economic activity to Eldoret long after the celebrations conclude.
