Tourist establishments in the coastal county of Kwale made brisk business during the just-ended 61st national Mashujaa Day celebrations.
Most hotels and guest houses in the region were fully booked as Kwale town played host to the national celebrations on Sunday, October 20, 2024, for the first time.
The erstwhile sleepy town of Kwale has been swarming with tourists, journalists, security personnel, and high-powered government delegations before, during, and after the colourful festivities.
Kenya Association of Hotelkeepers and Caterers (KAHC) Coast Branch Executive Officer Dr. Sam Ikwaye said accommodation facilities were fully booked about a week ahead of the Mashujaa Day fete.
Dr. Ikwaye says the Mashujaa Day celebration has brought joy to numerous owners of accommodation facilities in Kwale, as they were all fully booked, adding some had to book accommodation in Mombasa and Kilifi counties.
In an interview with KNA, Dr. Ikwaye said high-profile dignitaries, including government ministers and members of the diplomatic corps, come down to Kwale to be part of the historic occasion.
“Indeed, most beachfront hotels had been doing brisk business as a result of the Mashujaa Day holidays,” he said, adding that generally, business has been good since it was announced that Kwale would play host to the Mashujaa Day national celebrations.
He went further: “You could almost feel the vibes and festive atmosphere in the air in what was the first time when the national event was held here.”
Ikwaye says players in the tour, travel, and hospitality industries wish such historic occasions could happen more often since their businesses have recovered.
Rehema Ali, a local restaurant operator, said they were excited to host the national celebration led by President William Ruto since it offered local business owners an opportunity to make money.
“The Mashujaa Day celebration was a very big shot in the arm for local traders and a good opportunity for the businesses,” she said, adding that she was delighted to receive such a huge number of customers.
Kwale Governor Fatuma Achani noted that the national celebrations without doubt boosted the local economy and brought money into the pockets of area residents.
A spot check on the day of the celebrations showed that restaurants and guest houses that hardly attracted customers were also doing brisk business before, during, and after the national celebrations.
Governor Achani noted that during the celebrations, Kwale showcased the rich cultural heritage of the people through traditional music, dance, art exhibitions, and delectable culinary delights.
“Actually, the national celebrations took place in Kwale at a time the Diani beach topped Africa beach holiday destinations ranking once again,” she said, adding that Diani is renowned for its white sandy and pristine beaches.
Achani says the county has some of the best beaches in the region, and the Mashujaa day weekend was the perfect time for visitors to sample the natural splendour of Kwale.
She says the county benefitted in terms of a number of transformative projects, such as the new multimillion-shilling stadium, the new County State Lodge, road expansion, electricity and water supplies, and affordable housing projects.
“The construction of the new stadium with state-of-the-art facilities is a boost to the sports-loving people of Kwale County,” she said.
The new stadium complex features a football pitch, running track, basketball court, and facilities for other ball games and is expected to have a transformative impact on sports in Kwale and the entire coastal region.
Other grandiose projects taking shape in Kwale include the Sh20 billion Mwache Multipurpose Dam project, the Sh2.6 billion Shimoni fish port project, the Sh2.3 billion Diani airport expansion project, the Sh1.15 billion Funzi causeway bridge, the construction of the Sh3 billion Kwale-Kinango road, and the Sh538 million Mwachande bridge.
Governor Achani stated that the coastal county would utilise the infrastructure projects under the purview of the national government to unlock the region’s tourism potential.
National Celebrations Steering Committee Chairman Raymond Omollo, who is also the Principal Secretary for Interior and National Administration, noted that holding the national celebrations in the counties was in line with the government’s drive towards promotion of unity, devolution, and decentralisation.
Dr. Omollo says the decision to hold national celebrations in the counties (Madaraka Day and Mashujaa Day) on a rotational basis was a noble gesture that would in the long run spur socio-economic growth, celebrate the cultural diversity of the country, and strengthen nationhood.
He says the national event honoured heroes and offered a platform to highlight some key initiatives driven by the government, among them the affordable housing programme, which directly supports the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda through job creations and youth empowerment.
PS Omollo says providing decent housing and opening opportunities aimed to uplift communities and drive inclusive economic growth.
“We intend to continue holding these national celebrations in the counties, as they are destined to be a majestic celebration of unity and culture,” he said.
Two out of Kenya’s three National Days are now being hosted on a rotational basis by counties outside Nairobi, which has been left with only one event per year.
The three National Days are Madaraka Day celebrated on June 1, Mashujaa Day celebrated on October 20, and Jamhuri Day celebrated on December 12.
PS Omollo emphasised the significance of Mashujaa Day, recalling the struggles and sacrifices of Kenya’s forefathers who fought against colonialism.
By Hussein Abdullahi
