President William Ruto has wrapped up a high-profile tour of Kenya’s Northeastern region, unveiling a series of development projects aimed at transforming the historically marginalized area. The visit, spanning several counties, underscored his administration’s commitment to equitable development.
The highlight of Ruto’s tour was the reopening of the Garissa passport office, closed in 2014, easing travel and documentation services for residents. In Mandera, he inaugurated a new Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) campus to support Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and opened the Jitume ICT hub at Mandera Technical Training Institute to expand digital job opportunities. Additionally, he reviewed progress on the Mandera Water Supply and Sewerage Infrastructure Project, set to benefit 12,000 households.
In Wajir, the President launched several key projects, including the Wajir Township affordable housing initiative, a refurbished museum, and the Wajir County Blood Transfusion Centre. He commissioned the Wajir County Assembly and inaugurated the Last Mile Connectivity Project to enhance electricity access. A notable intervention was the launch of a livestock vaccination and restocking campaign at Bula Burwaqo to support pastoralists affected by drought and El Niño.
A significant moment came when Ruto signed a Presidential Decree at Orahey Grounds, abolishing extra vetting and ethnic profiling in acquiring identification documents. “Our fellow countrymen from Northern Kenya will no longer suffer the indignity of discrimination,” he declared.
In Garissa, he inspected the county’s airstrip terminal, launched a livestock vaccination drive, and laid the foundation stone for a 408-unit affordable housing project. He also inspected the Mother and Child Unit at Garissa Level V Hospital and commissioned the Steam Cooking Carbon Asset Infrastructure at Garissa High School, part of a national clean-energy initiative for schools.
Infrastructure development remained a focal point of the tour. The President launched the Sh1.7 billion Tana River Bridge project to prevent recurrent flooding and inspected the ongoing construction of the 257-km Lamu-Ijara-Garissa Road, a key section of the LAPSSET corridor. He also commissioned road projects connecting Isiolo, Mandera, and Somalia, boosting cross-border trade.
Before heading to Tanzania for the EAC-SADC summit on the DRC conflict, Ruto emphasized his administration’s commitment to national unity and development. “We must build One Country, One People, One Mission,” he stated.
His tour signals a new era of investment in Northern Kenya, with a focus on economic growth, infrastructure, and social welfare.
