Mashujaa Day 2026: What's Happening Back Home This Week

Happy Mashujaa Day, family! Today Kenya honours the heroes who fought for our freedom.

This year marks the 63rd celebration, and the main national event is at Kipchoge Keino Stadium in Eldoret (Kenya Ministry of Foreign Affairs).

Wherever you are in Northwestern Ontario, you may be calling home or watching a stream tonight. To help you follow along, here’s a quick look at the stories people back home are talking about.

New cost-of-living proposals

Around the holiday, President Ruto announced four proposed measures to ease the cost of living (Kenya Ministry of Foreign Affairs). They include:

• exempting workers who earn KSh 32,333 a month or less from PAYE
• exempting land deals of KSh 1 million or less from stamp duty
• removing the 25 percent import duty on mobile phones
• expanding the national internship programme to 50,000 young people from January 2027

He also announced that dairy farmers would be paid KSh 65 a litre from this month, plus a KSh 2 a litre bonus paid quarterly (People Daily).

If you’re buying land back home or sending a phone to a relative, these changes could matter to you.

The tax, duty and internship measures are still proposals. Wait for the final official details before you plan around them.

The milk rate is what he announced at the celebration. It still has to show up in what processors pay.

Health: Ebola and a public-health strike

Kenya has confirmed nine Ebola cases, all in one cluster linked to the first patient, who had travelled from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Al Jazeera).

Public health officers were still on strike as of October 19, the 90th day, with no settlement yet (Kenyans.co.ke).

If you’re planning a trip home for the holidays, check the Government of Canada’s travel advice for Kenya (travel.gc.ca) and talk to your doctor before you go.

Weather: El Niño rains expected

Kenya Met’s forecast for October 20 to 26 expected rain in 44 counties. A wetter October-to-December season has been linked to El Niño, and the Health ministry has activated preparedness for the rains (Capital FM). This is a good time to check in with family in flood-prone areas.

Politics: 2027 is getting closer

Opposition leaders met on Mashujaa Day to talk about a joint ticket (Daily Nation). The registrar also issued full registration to six more parties last week, bringing the total to 107 (Daily Nation). We’ll keep following it, and we’ll share what diaspora voters need to know as dates are confirmed.

Quick takeaways

• Today is the 63rd Mashujaa Day, with the national celebration in Eldoret.
• The proposed PAYE exemption, stamp-duty relief on small land deals, and the end of import duty on phones are not law yet. Ruto also announced a milk price of KSh 65 a litre for farmers.
• If you’re travelling home, check the health and travel advisories first. Public health officers were still on strike.
• Rain was forecast in 44 counties this week, and a wetter short-rains season has been linked to El Niño, so check on family in flood-prone areas.

Is your family or community group in Thunder Bay celebrating Mashujaa Day? Send us your photos and stories and we’ll share them here.