President William Ruto reaffirmed his government’s commitment to ending long-standing perceptions of marginalization in Northern Kenya, declaring that the region is fully part of the nation’s identity and development agenda.
Speaking during an address in Wajir, the Head of State dismissed the historical view that the region is “too remote” or “too marginal” to matter, insisting that every community has an equal stake in the country’s future. “Wajir is Kenya,” he emphasized, signaling a renewed push for inclusion and national cohesion.
A key highlight of the address was the government’s decision to abolish the stringent and often criticized vetting procedures that residents of Northern Kenya and other border counties have historically faced when applying for national identity documents. The move is expected to ease access to essential services and strengthen citizenship rights for affected communities.
President Ruto also unveiled a series of large-scale development commitments targeting the Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASAL) region. These include a KSh 5 billion livestock investment initiative aimed at strengthening the pastoral economy, the expansion of Wajir International Airport to improve connectivity, and major water infrastructure projects such as the Bute Dam.
On education, the President framed learning as the central driver of Kenya’s future transformation, stating that the country’s “liberation struggle” will no longer be fought on battlefields but through knowledge, skills development, and investment in human capital.
The announcements form part of the government’s broader strategy to accelerate development in historically underserved regions while promoting national unity and equal opportunity across all counties.
Source attributed: Nation television