Ruto opens door to moving 2026 Jamhuri Day celebrations from Kiambu to Voi

President William Ruto has opened the door to moving this year’s Jamhuri Day celebrations from Kiambu to Voi, putting the spotlight on whether a new stadium can be completed in time for the national event.

Speaking in Taita-Taveta on Thursday, October 1, Ruto said the proposed Vindo Stadium would be ready before December 12 and suggested that residents could have a say on whether it hosts the celebrations.

“I want to assure you that before December 12, the stadium will have been completed,” Ruto said.

He added that if residents wanted the national celebrations held at the facility, “you will be the ones to decide”.

The comments do not amount to a formal change of venue.

The government’s 2026 national celebrations calendar, released in April, listed Kiambu County as the host of Jamhuri Day on December 12. The President’s latest remarks therefore point to a possible change in plans rather than a confirmed relocation.

Voi stadium now at the centre of the debate

The proposed change would put Vindo Stadium at the centre of Kenya’s final major national celebration of the year.

The 10,000-seater facility is being built at Vindo Show Ground in Voi on 16 acres provided by the Taita-Taveta County Government.

The Ministry of Defence said in March that the project was being implemented jointly with the county government, with the Kenya Defence Forces overseeing construction.

The stadium is designed to meet FIFA and CAF standards and will include a football pitch, an eight-lane athletics track, VIP facilities and other amenities.

The project has also taken longer than initially expected.

Construction was officially restarted in March after years of delays. A September 28 update reported that the facility was about 50 per cent complete and had a budget of approximately KSh950 million.

The government is now working towards completing the major works before December.

That leaves roughly two months between the President’s latest remarks and Jamhuri Day.

Kiambu was already on the official calendar

The possible switch is significant because Kiambu had already been formally selected as the host county.

A circular dated April 14 and issued by Head of Public Service Felix Koskei set out the 2026 schedule for national celebrations.

It listed Labour Day in Vihiga, Madaraka Day in Wajir, Mazingira Day in Trans Nzoia and Mashujaa Day in Elgeyo-Marakwet.

Jamhuri Day was assigned to Kiambu on December 12.

The government said the county-based approach was intended to spread national celebrations across the country and strengthen national identity.

Ruto’s latest comments suggest that the final venue could now depend on the progress of the Voi stadium and the government’s decision in the coming weeks.

A bigger role for counties

The possible move would continue a policy of taking major national celebrations beyond Nairobi.

The government has increasingly held national days in different counties, using the events to showcase local infrastructure and development projects.

Madaraka Day was held in Wajir earlier this year, while Mashujaa Day is scheduled for Elgeyo-Marakwet on October 20.

The approach means host counties often receive increased attention and accelerated preparations around transport, security, public spaces and other facilities.

For Taita-Taveta, hosting Jamhuri Day would put Voi in the national spotlight and give the new stadium an immediate test as a major public venue.

Why the stadium deadline matters

The biggest question is whether the stadium can be delivered to the required standard in time.

The Defence Ministry said when the project was launched in March that the facility was expected to take nine months to complete.

That timeline would place completion around December, leaving little room for delays before the December 12 event.

A national celebration also requires more than a completed playing surface.

The venue would need to accommodate thousands of spectators, senior government officials, military personnel, performers and the media, while meeting security and logistical requirements.

The government has not yet announced that Vindo Stadium has been formally approved as the final venue for Jamhuri Day.

What Jamhuri Day marks

Jamhuri Day is celebrated every December 12.

The date marks Kenya’s independence from British rule in 1963 and the country’s transition to a republic in 1964.

This year’s celebration will fall on a Saturday.

If Voi is eventually selected, it would give Taita-Taveta a rare opportunity to host one of the country’s biggest state occasions.

But for now, Kiambu remains the venue contained in the government’s published 2026 calendar.

The next step will be to see whether Vindo Stadium meets the December deadline — and whether the government formally changes the national celebrations schedule.

For residents of Voi, the President’s announcement has opened the possibility.

For organisers, it has also started a race against the clock.

About the Author

Maureen Onyango is a journalist passionate about storytelling, life coaching and spiritual lessons. She studied at the Kenya Institute of Management and enjoys telling stories that inform, inspire and empower communities.