Residents drawn from different parts of the Western region have thronged Masinde Muliro stadium in Bungoma County to celebrate the 61st Madaraka Day celebrations.
The celebrations will be graced by President William Ruto, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, governors, presidents from the neighboring countries, MPs and other dignitaries.
Joseph Barasa, a farmer, applauded the President for choosing to host this year’s Madaraka Day celebrations in Bungoma.
Barasa also called the President to make sure that the plan for Bungoma to be upgraded into a city status is realized.
On Nzoia farmers’ payment, Barasa rallied the President to fulfill his promise of completing their remaining 20 percent pay.
“We as the sugarcane farmers, have high hopes that the President’s address today is going to shed light on our pay,” he said, adding that the locals are also expecting the head of state to make more developmental announcements.
Ben Wafula, a business man in Bungoma town, expressed his excitement for the celebrations saying that it has really boosted his business for the past weeks as people streamed in from other parts of the country.
“Business has been booming for the past three or so weeks, we have seen Kenyans drawn from other parts of the country and it has been a plus on the business community,” he said.
Wafula also cited the just concluded Agricultural Expo that took place at Kibabii University as an eye opener to farmers and business operators to the region as many new modernities of farming were showcased at the Expo.
“I think this Expo has been of great importance to the people from this region as it has shown farmers' new ways of farming, value addition and climate change,” he said.
Bungoma governor Kenneth Lusaka said that hosting Madaraka Day in Bungoma is a game changer as in the two days the President has been in Bungoma has launched many projects.
While on his tour in Bungoma, the President commissioned the Immigration office, commissioning Kapkara dam in Sirisia, a vocational training institute in Webuye West and launch of the upgrading of the bitumen standard of junction 779 Mayanja- Bisunu- Sirisia.
