Cemetery Row Threatens to Disrupt Eldoret Mashujaa Day Plans
However, the visit came amid growing concerns from residents who claim that plans to expand the stadium could encroach on the nearby burial ground.
Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen addresses journalists during an inspection tour of Kipchoge Keino Stadium in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County, as preparations for the Mashujaa Day celebrations gather pace. Image by Hubz Media.
By Judith Waka
Preparations for the 2026 Mashujaa Day celebrations in Eldoret have run into a fresh hurdle following a dispute over a cemetery located adjacent to the Kipchoge Keino Stadium, which is set to host the national fete.
The government is working against time to complete rehabilitation works at the stadium ahead of the October 20 celebrations, but the construction activities have sparked unease among locals over the fate of graves bordering the facility.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen was in Eldoret on Friday to inspect progress at Kipchoge Keino Stadium, which has been earmarked to host this year’s Mashujaa Day. The national event is expected to be jointly hosted by Uasin Gishu, Nandi and Elgeyo Marakwet counties.
However, the visit came amid growing concerns from residents who claim that plans to expand the stadium could encroach on the nearby burial ground. Families with relatives interred at the site are demanding assurances that the graves will be respected and protected.
Locals have opposed any move to extend the stadium infrastructure into the cemetery, saying there was little consultation with affected families before construction works intensified around the area.
Huruma Ward Member of County Assembly Kimani Wanjohi has weighed in on the matter, warning that any exhumation exercise must strictly adhere to the law. He said due process, including obtaining a court order and conducting meaningful public participation, must be followed.
“Any process involving exhumation must follow the legal procedure. You cannot just wake up and exhume bodies without a court order and without involving the families and the public,” the MCA said.
The standoff has also raised broader questions about the dignity of the deceased and the rights of families who have buried their loved ones at the site for decades. Residents insist that national celebrations should not come at the cost of desecrating graves.
Despite the dispute, CS Murkomen maintained that preparations for Mashujaa Day are on course. He said the government is using the celebrations as an opportunity to accelerate development projects in the three host counties.
“The Mashujaa Day preparations are part of a broader programme involving sports, infrastructure, roads and other development projects across the three counties,” Murkomen said.
He added that the decision to hold the national celebrations outside Nairobi is deliberate and aimed at ensuring equitable distribution of national resources and development.
“The joint hosting of the celebrations is part of the government’s effort to spread national events and development opportunities beyond Nairobi,” the CS noted.
As bulldozers and workers continue to race to complete the Kipchoge Keino Stadium, focus is now shifting to how the national government, county leadership and affected families will resolve the cemetery impasse.
For the residents, the priority remains safeguarding the resting place of their kin and ensuring their voices are heard before any decision is made.
For the state, the task is twofold — to deliver a stadium fit for a national celebration and to handle a sensitive community issue without sparking further outrage ahead of one of Kenya’s most important national holidays.
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