Kericho: Roads to remain closed, traffic diverted ahead of Mashujaa Day fete

Rift Valley Regional Commissioner Abdi Hassan (left). [File, Standard]

Major roads in Kericho County will be temporarily closed to allow free traffic flow, ahead of the 60th Mashujaa Day celebrations tomorrow.

Rift Valley Regional Commissioner Dr. Abdi Hassan said traffic on major roads will be affected as a result of the large number of guests expected.

"Kericho County is ready to host over 10,000 attendees. Traffic on major roads will be affected as some roads will be temporarily closed," Hassan said in a briefing on Thursday, October 19.

Attendees are expected to start arriving at the venue, Green Stadium, from as early as 3:00 a.m. tomorrow.

The event will be graced by President William Ruto, Angolan president Joao Lourenco is also expected to attend among other delegates.

In the anticipated traffic disruption, road users are advised to seek alternative routes to avoid inconveniences.

Motorists using the Bomet to Kisumu road will be re-routed at Premier junction then join Kabianga University to Sosiot and later join the highway at Kapsoit.

Bomet-Nakuru road users will branch at Premier junction proceed to Kabianga University then turn right and proceed to Tegatand to join the highway.

Consequently, road users heading to Kisumu will branch at the Londiani-Muhoroni junction and join the Kisumu Kericho highway at the Kipsitet area.

Motorists using Nakuru- Bomet-Kisii road are advised to divert at Brooke Centre proceed to Kipchimchim then to Chepnyogaa to Premier and later join the Kericho Litein road.

Kericho main stage, Moi Garden, ACK Church, Emmanuel Church, and Eland Primary School are set to be reserved for parking.

This year's Mashujaa Day fete is taking place in Kericho County, with the theme of Universal Health Care (UHC).

Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo, while overseeing the rehearsals on Wednesday, October 18, said that the event will celebrate 150 heroes and heroines.

The celebration will also be used to launch UHC in Kericho.

"We will unveil the 100,000 health promoters who have been fully equipped with the necessary tools to carry out their work," said Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumincha.

Kericho now joins the list of counties to have hosted Mashujaa Day celebrations including Nyeri, Narok, Mombasa, Kakamega, Nakuru, Machakos, Kisii, Kirinyaga, and Nairobi.