Ruto pledges more resources for Northern Kenya at end of three-day tour

Wednesday June 3, 2026

President William Ruto has ended his three-day tour of Northern Kenya with a renewed promise to direct more development funds to a region he says has been left behind for too long.

He argued that Kenya can only unlock the area’s huge untapped potential if the North is fully woven into the national development blueprint.

“Northern Kenya is not peripheral; it is central to the development of Kenya,” he said on Tuesday at Maalimin in Lagdera Constituency, Garissa County.

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.”

The President said his government has stepped up efforts to bring critical services to the region, including water, electricity, schools and roads.

At Maalimin, he broke ground for the Ksh72.2 million Maalimin Mini-Grid project, which is expected to power more than 500 households.

He said the national government is also investing Ksh4.1 billion to connect 26,000 households in Wajir County, Ksh2.5 billion to electrify 18,600 homes in Mandera, and Ksh1.6 billion to connect 8,300 households in Garissa County.

Earlier in Kotulo, Tarbaj Constituency, Wajir, he inspected the 64km Tarbaj-Kotulo section of the 750km Isiolo-Mandera road, a project valued at Ksh100 billion.

Ruto said a multi-agency security operation has weakened the threat from Al Shabab militants, restoring relative calm in villages and allowing construction to continue with limited disruption.

The leaders present included Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi, Garissa Governor Nathif Jama, MPs, MCAs and other local leaders.

Later, the President commissioned the Ksh460 million Eldas Water Supply Project and laid the foundation stone for the 580-bed Eldas Teachers Training College, both in Eldas Constituency, Wajir.

Speaking to residents in Eldas town, he urged parents across Northern Kenya to take advantage of the government’s heavy spending on education by sending 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.

He also instructed security officers in the region to remain alert, ensure that all children attend school and take decisive action against parents who fail to comply.

Across Wajir County, the President said the government is spending Ksh15 billion on 18 modern markets, hostels for 2,000 students and 4,600 affordable housing units, investments he said will raise living standards and create jobs for local residents.

He further urged residents to enrol with the Social Health Authority (SHA) so they can benefit from the government’s medical insurance programme.

Ruto said registration remains low in the region, noting that SHA enrolment in Wajir stands at just 35 per cent.

He said the scheme would also help the government gather accurate data for planning and service delivery.

“You must all register with SHA for Government to take care of your medical bills. Without doing this, we cannot help you in times of need,” he said.

The President said the government disbursed KSh12.7 billion this week to settle hospital claims nationwide, including payments to health facilities in Northern Kenya.

He added that medical equipment was delivered to hospitals in the region last week, helping them expand access to more specialised services.

Ruto also told residents to dismiss his political rivals, saying they have little to show for their years in leadership.

“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 said.

Later, the President inspected the Garissa-Ijara road stretch, which forms part of the wider Lamu-Garissa-Ijara road project.