RUTO PROMISES: Northern Kenya Promised Ksh.123 Billion Projects
President William Ruto concluded his three-day tour of Northern Kenya with a promise to direct additional resources to an area long overlooked in national development.
The President emphasized that only by fully integrating and mainstreaming the North into Kenya’s development plan will the country be able to capitalize on the region’s enormous untapped potential.
“Northern Kenya is not peripheral; it is central to the development of Kenya,” he said at Maalimin in Lagdera Constituency, Garissa County, on Tuesday.
He added: “I am on a mission to correct the historical injustices and marginalisation suffered by fellow Kenyans from this region for far too long.”
He explained that his administration has increased its efforts to provide basic amenities to the region, such as water, electricity, schools, and roads.
WATCH: President Ruto apologises to the people of the North Eastern region on behalf of the Government and the people of Kenya for decades of discrimination, marginalisation and underdevelopment, saying that the injustice has undermined livelihoods since 1963. pic.twitter.com/y4MEvZwpyE— Ahmed A. Kosar (@AhmedAKosar) June 1, 2026
The President broke ground on the Ksh.72.2 million Maalimin Mini-Grid, which would power more than 500 families in the area.
Overall, President Ruto said, the Government is investing Ksh.4.1 billion to connect 26,000 households in Wajir County, Ksh.2.5 billion to power 18,600 homes in Mandera, and Ksh.1.6 billion to connect 8,300 households in Garissa County.
Earlier at Kotulo in Tarbaj Constituency, Wajir, he inspected the construction of the 64km Tarbaj-Kotulo stretch of the 750km Isiolo-Mandera road, which is being built at a cost of Ksh.100 billion.
He said the government, through a multi-agency team, has neutralised the threat posed by Al Shabab militants, thus bringing peace to villages and allowing the project to proceed with minimal interruption.
Present were Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, Governors Ahmed Abdullahi (Wajir) and Nathif Jama (Garissa), MPs and MCAs, among other leaders.
Later, President Ruto commissioned the Ksh.460 million Eldas Water Supply Project and laid the foundation stone for the 580-bed capacity Eldas Teachers Training College, both in Eldas Constituency, Wajir.
Addressing residents of Eldas town, he urged parents across Northern Kenya to take advantage of the Government’s heavy investment in education by taking their children to school.
“It would be foolish, after such investment in education, to force your children to stay home and take care of cattle instead of taking them to school,” he said.
The President directed security officials in the region to be vigilant and ensure that all children go to school, and take firm action against offending parents.
Across Wajir County, President Ruto said the Government is investing Ksh.15 billion to build 18 modern markets, hostels for 2,000 students, and 4,600 affordable housing units, thus improving living standards and creating employment for local people.
Additionally, he called on residents to register with the Social Health Authority (SHA) to benefit from Government medical insurance.
President William Ruto has said the Cabinet has approved funding to expand judicial infrastructure across Kenya, with Wajir expected to benefit.
Speaking during the North Eastern Media Roundtable after the Madaraka Day celebrations in Wajir, Ruto expressed confidence that the… pic.twitter.com/CxachrAWMD— The Eastleigh Voice (@Eastleighvoice) June 1, 2026
He lamented the low enrollment numbers in the region, pointing out that registration in Wajir only stands at a lowly 35 per cent.
President Ruto explained to residents that SHA membership will enable the Government to access accurate data for proper planning.
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“You must all register with SHA for the government to take care of your medical bills. Without doing this, we cannot help you in times of need,” he said.
The President pointed out that this week, the Government has disbursed Ksh.12.7 billion to pay claims to hospitals nationwide, including health facilities in Northern Kenya.
Last week, he added, the Government had dispatched medical equipment to hospitals in the region, enabling them to offer more specialised services.
President Ruto urged residents of the region to ignore his political opponents, whom he said have little to offer in national transformation.
“Some of them have held top leadership positions in this country, yet they have little to show. So far, their only achievement is giving me nicknames,” he noted.
Later, President Ruto inspected the Garissa-Ijara road stretch, part of the larger Lamu-Garissa-Ijara road.
RUTO PROMISES: Northern Kenya Promised Ksh.123 Billion Projects
