Kericho residents have a reason to smile after the end of Mashujaa Day celebrations.
This is after President William Ruto promised to ensure the town, which is currently congested is expanded to allow future development and planning.
Speaking during the celebrations which took place at Kericho Green Stadium, Ruto said a piece of land had been identified to ensure the plan materialises.
He noted that the expansion of the town had been difficult due to the lack of land issues which had marred the available land having been sorted.
This, he said, will be done in November when he will go back to the county to ensure the plan is actualised.
“I had told you before that Kericho town does not have the land for extension. Kericho is so congested. Kericho is a small town because there is no expansion programme,” Ruto said.
“I want to announce that I will come back next month because the 1,000-acre piece of land which had issues, all those issues have now been sorted by the government and now we will get a 1,000-acre piece of land for expansion, development and planning of Kericho town.”
He noted that those who would be affected by the project would be considered under the government housing programme.
“Wale wananchi wako pale tutawapanga katika mpango yetu ya affordable housing ili kila Mkenya apate nafasi ya kusherehea ushujaa wa taifa let la Kenya,” the President noted.
He further noted that he will visit the county next month to sort out matters to do with hospitals and the dam in the area as had been planned by the government.
He thanked the residents for hosting the Mashujaa fete and for voting for the Kenya Kwanza government during the 2022 general election.
Thousands of people thronged Kericho Green stadium for the Mashujaa day celebrations despite the cold and rains being witnessed in the area.
The crowds started to pour into the stadium as early as 1 am.
However, a stampede was witnessed at the entrance of Gate C where people ended up being injured.
Following the incident, police moved to intervene in the incident and create order at the gates.
It was however, made difficult owing to the muddy pavements outside the stadium that were occasioned by the heavy downpour on Thursday evening.
