President William Ruto speaks during the 63rd Madaaka Day celebrations in Wajir on June 1, 2026./PCS
President William Ruto has pledged to end decades of marginalisation in North Eastern Kenya. The President declared that no part of the country will be left behind in the government’s development agenda.
Speaking during the 63rd Madaraka Day celebrations at Wajir Stadium on Sunday, President Ruto said his administration was committed to ensuring equitable development across the country, particularly in historically neglected regions such as Wajir, Mandera and Garissa.
“For too long, some parts of our country were told they were too distant, too dry, too difficult, or too marginal to matter. Today, from Wajir, Kenya rejects that thinking,” he said.
The Head of State described the hosting of Madaraka Day celebrations in Wajir as a historic moment and a clear statement that every Kenyan deserves equal opportunity, dignity and access to development regardless of geography.
“This is Wajir County. This is Kenya. This is Bottom-Up. This is what we meant when we said we would leave no one behind,” Ruto told thousands of wananchi gathered at the stadium.
Ruto acknowledged that Northern Kenya had suffered years of exclusion due to discriminatory policies and inadequate investment in infrastructure, healthcare, water and education. He apologised to residents of the region for the injustices they had endured over the decades.
“On behalf of the people and the Republic of Kenya, I offer my sincere apology for the marginalisation that you have endured over the years. Poleni sana, ndugu zetu. It was never meant to be this way,” he said.
The President said the government was now dismantling that legacy of exclusion through major investments in roads, housing, education, healthcare, water and livestock development.
Among the flagship projects announced is the KSh100 billion Northern Kenya Gateway Corridor linking Isiolo, Wajir and Mandera. The 750-kilometre road project is expected to improve connectivity, ease movement of goods and people, and unlock trade and investment opportunities across the region.
“This is more than a road project. It is a bridge between exclusion and opportunity,” Ruto said.
The President also revealed that projects worth approximately Sh38.5 billion are currently under implementation across Wajir, Garissa and Mandera counties. The projects include affordable housing, student accommodation, modern markets, police housing, classrooms and other social infrastructure.
In Wajir County alone, the government has invested Sh15.6 billion in the construction of 4,600 affordable housing units at various stages of development. Ruto said the projects were creating employment opportunities for local youth while improving living standards. Education emerged as a key pillar of the government’s transformation agenda for the region.
The President said the administration had operationalised Wajir, Kotulo and Mandera Teachers Training Colleges to address chronic teacher shortages in Northern Kenya. Through an affirmative action programme, 1,800 local teachers from Wajir, Mandera and Garissa have already been employed and deployed within the region, while 4,616 young people from the area are currently enrolled in teacher training colleges. Ruto further disclosed that the government had built 23,000 classrooms nationally and was constructing an additional 1,600 laboratories, many of them in Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs).
“To the youth of Northern Kenya, your future will not be defined by geography. It will be defined by your talent, your skills, and your determination,” the President said.
To support learners in drought-prone areas, the government is currently running school feeding programmes benefiting 2.4 million students. The President also directed the Ministry of Education to begin consultations aimed at formally integrating Duksi, Madrassa and pastoral instruction programmes into the national education framework to ensure children in marginalised communities are not excluded from learning opportunities.
On healthcare, Ruto said about 800,000 residents from Wajir, Garissa and Mandera counties had already registered under the Social Health Authority (SHA), with the scheme paying out Sh8.1 billion in healthcare claims within the three counties. The government is also investing heavily in youth empowerment and digital infrastructure.
According to the President, more than 7,200 youth from Wajir, Garissa and Mandera have benefited from the NYOTA programme through business funding, mentorship and training. He added that Jitume Digital Hubs, ICT centres and digital skills programmes were being rolled out to ensure young people in Northern Kenya can compete globally
. Livestock development also featured prominently in the President’s address. Ruto noted that pastoralism contributes significantly to Kenya’s economy and supports millions of livelihoods in ASAL counties. The government has distributed more than 52,000 livestock to more than 10,000 households across 16 ASAL counties as part of a restocking programme following prolonged droughts. In addition, more than 10 million animals have been vaccinated while feedlots, hay storage facilities and breeding programmes are being expanded to strengthen the livestock value chain.
The President announced the establishment of a Sh5 billion County Livestock Investment Company initiative targeting more than 350,000 pastoralists in 21 ASAL counties. The programme aims to help pastoralists access markets, insurance, finance and value-addition opportunities.
To address persistent water shortages, Ruto said the government plans to construct 50 mega dams, 200 medium and small dams and thousands of micro-dams across the country to support irrigation and food production. Key projects earmarked for Northern Kenya include the Bute Dam in Wajir North, the mega dam on River Daua in Mandera and the Isiolo Dam on the Ewaso Nyiro basin.
The President said the projects would transform the region into a major hub for agriculture, livestock trade, logistics and regional commerce. “Wajir is not the edge of Kenya. Wajir is Kenya. North Eastern is Kenya and Kenya belongs to all of us,” Ruto declared.
