President William Ruto and other government officials will hold a thanksgiving service at Kirubia Stadium in Tharaka Nithi today. Due to the stadium's central location on the Meru-Embu road, a big number of people are expected to attend.
They stadium is closer to Kiamuchii, Kathathani, Kambandi and Kiereni areas. It is also near Chuka town and its neighbourhoods of Kangutu and Ndagani.
According to Tharaka Nithi Governor Muthomi Njuki, holding the prayers at Kirubia will be special to Ruto. He claimed that during campaigns last year, Ruto who then the deputy president and had fallen out with President Uhuru Kenyatta, was, on several occasions, barred from holding rallies at the stadium.
Mr Njuki added that Ruto had been passionate about construction of the stadium. "He was very particular about this project. If you look at this project, it looks better than most stadiums. But believe it or not, he could not use this venue when he was campaigning. This was a no-go zone for all of us (in UDA). But now we will use it," said the governor.
Governor Njuki spoke as he took Youth, Arts and Sports CS Ababu Namwamba on an inspection tour of the stadium.
Tharaka Nithi voted overwhelmingly for Ruto in the August 9 General Election. His UDA party bagged all the three parliamentary seats. It missed only two of the 13 wards seats.
During his campaign tours in the area, Ruto usually held his rallies on the roadside at Chuka town. Njuki said Ruto, then facing opposition from government, was blocked from holding his rallies at the stadium.
"He is very particular using this field on his maiden visit to Tharaka Nithi since he became president. We intend to hold our thanksgiving prayer here and we hope by the time he comes, he will find this field in a much better shape than it is today," Njuki added.
Mr Namwamba said while he had suspended all stadium projects across the country, Kirubia and Moi stadium in Embu will be exceptions.
"This project is very dear to the Ruto. It is also a project that perhaps explains, and a manifestation of tribulations he went through. Many times the President who initiated this project could not even be allowed to sniff around this ground," he said.
The Embu stadium will be host to this year's Madaraka celebrations, said the CS.
"So, we want this (Kirubia) to be a symbol of the resilience of the President. We want him to land here in style when this facility is ready for his arrival," Namwamba said.
Speaking at Nkarini in Tharaka recently, Interior CS Kithure Kindiki confirmed the president would visit the region. Prof Kindiki told residents that President Ruto will be visiting Mt Kenya East counties soon and tasked area leaders and residents to prepare to welcome him.
"We will make sure we boost security because it is important for our country as we seek to achieve economic development. The President is going to come here. He will come to be with us in Tharaka Nithi and Meru. He will also visit Embu and other areas," Kindiki said.
"President Ruto's government is keen to complete all the stalled projects and launch new ones," he added.
He said County Commissioner Norbert Komora and Governor Njuki will convene a meeting of leaders to compile a report on administrative areas and their needs.
