President William Ruto dedicated this year’s Mashujaa Day celebrations to the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
Speaking during the national event, marking the arrest of freedom fighters and the declaration of State of Emergency by the British colonial government in 1952, at Ithookwe Stadium in Kitui County, the President posthumously conferred upon Hon Odinga the Chief of the Order of the Golden Heart of Kenya (C.G.H.), First Class, the country’s highest civilian honour.
He said this recognition placed Mr Odinga’s name among Kenya’s foremost national heroes.
“As the nation continues to observe the seven days of mourning since the passing of our former Prime Minister, it is both fitting and worthy that we anchor this year’s Mashujaa celebrations in the extraordinary and consequential life of our departed legend, the Rt Hon Raila Odinga,” he said.
The special guest at the grand ceremony was President Bassirou Diomaye Faye of Senegal.
Also present were Prime Minister Maria Benvinda Levy of Mozambique, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, Governor Julius Malombe of Kitui, among others.
President Ruto, who was accompanied by First Lady Rachel Ruto, described Odinga as a patriot who had always put country above self, declaring that unity, peace, and national welfare outweighed personal ambition.
He commended the departed leader, saying he had closed ranks with his competitors for the common good, embraced national unity beyond tribe, and readily reached across the political divide to steady the nation.
He added that Odinga’s unshakeable faith in Kenya’s future reflected his deep and steadfast love for the country.
“He famously declared that he would shake the hands of his rivals whether he won or lost because he loved Kenya more than he loved Raila Amolo Odinga. That was the measure of a great man,” President Ruto said.
He went on: “This is the man, the legend, the pan-Africanist, to whom we dedicate this Mashujaa Day.”
The President spoke of his conversations with Mr Odinga and leaders across the political divide on the future of the country’s transformation journey.
In his honour, the President pledged to champion causes that were dear to Odinga: Visionary leadership, democracy, national unity, irrigation for sustainable food security, expansion of energy access, and value addition through agro-processing and manufacturing.
He and Mr Odinga, the President explained, were in agreement that leadership is the true driver of national development.
“Not leadership focused on the next election, but leadership that aspires to impact the next generation,” he said.
Pointing out that the country’s progress cannot be achieved through partisan pursuits, Ruto noted that this could only be achieved through a national inclusive mission.
To achieve food security, the President said Kenya must expand irrigation and modernise agriculture, noting that rain-fed farming can no longer feed Kenya’s growing population.
“That is why we have now set an ambitious target to build at least 50 mega dams and bring at least 2 million acres under irrigation,” he explained.
The President pointed out that a nation unable to feed itself cannot claim to be sovereign.
Additionally, he emphasised, enhancing value addition, agro-processing, and manufacturing remains central to Kenya’s rapid growth.
“To transform Kenya into a prosperous, job-creating and wealthy nation, we must become a country that makes things, not merely buys or imports them; a country that exports finished goods, not raw materials; a country where industries absorb labour, spur innovation, and expand wealth across every region,” he said.
President Ruto said Kenya is driving transformation in manufacturing and industrialisation through Special Economic Zones and County Aggregation and Industrial Parks to create jobs and link farmers, entrepreneurs, and small enterprises to wider markets and value chains.
He, however, noted that Kenya cannot industrialise without reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy.
“That is why we have set our sights on expanding Kenya’s energy generation capacity from the current 2,300 megawatts to at least 10,000 megawatts within the next decade,” he said.
On infrastructure, the President announced that the government will dual at least 1,000km of major highways, including Rironi-Nakuru-Mau Summit-Eldoret-Malaba, Makutano-Embu-Meru, Kitengela-Namanga, Mombasa-Nairobi, and Marua-Nanyuki-Isiolo roads, among others.
“We must also build an additional 10,000km of new tarmac roads linking farmers, traders, and manufacturers to markets across the nation, and also extend the Standard Gauge Railway from Naivasha to Kisumu and onward to Malaba, seamlessly connecting Kenya to Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and the DRC, the very heart of the African Continental Free Trade Area dream,” he said.
On the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA), the President announced that verification of beneficiaries for business grants will begin on Friday in every constituency.
“We are looking for 100,000 young people to give them Sh50,0000 business support grants to empower their enterprises,” the President said.
He said the government will begin giving these funds from 4th November, 2025.
On the development programme in Kitui, the President assured residents that the county and Ukambani region will not be left behind.
President Ruto announced that the government has allocated Sh2.2 billion to connect 16,500 households in Kitui by February 2026.
Prof Kindiki celebrated Kenyan heroes who fought for the country’s sovereignty and defended Kenyans’ dignity, emancipating Africans from colonial domination, expanding Kenya’s political rights and freedoms, and advancing and perfecting Kenya’s democracy.
“What remains now is to strengthen the foundation of our country and perfect the economic well-being of the people of our country,” he said.
During his address, Faye of Senegal expressed his condolences, on behalf of the people of Senegal, to the people of Kenya on the passing of former Prime Minister Odinga.
The Senegalese leader also celebrated Kenyan heroes who fought for the country’s freedom and liberation.
He added that he is keen on paying tribute to victims of slavery, colonialism, and past injustices.
On her part, Prime Minister Levy of Mozambique said the death of Odinga was a great loss not only to Kenya, but also to Africa.
“With his passing, Kenya and indeed all African nations have lost a true nationalist whose voice will continue to resonate in the struggle for a more just and democratic society,” she said.
