Ruto Vows To End Northern Kenya Marginalisation As Development Drive Intensifies In Kotulo
News Updated: 02 June 2026 12:11 EAT
President William Samoei Ruto addressing the people of Kotulo during his development tour of the Northern Kenya in Wajir county
President William Ruto has reiterated his administration's commitment to transforming Northern Kenya, saying the region will no longer suffer the neglect and discrimination that characterized previous decades. Speaking during a development tour in Kotulo, Wajir County, the President said his government is implementing policies aimed at ensuring residents enjoy equal opportunities and access to public services just like citizens in other parts of the country. He cited reforms in the issuance of national identity cards as one of the measures already undertaken to eliminate historical barriers faced by residents of the region.
"Jambo la pili, mimi niliwaeleza ya kwamba hii Northern Kenya iliyowachwa nyuma siku zote niliwaambia nitarekebisha ile makosa ilitokana pale nyuma. Northern Kenya ikabaguliwa, ikakosa barabara, ikakosa stima, ikakosa usalama. Mimi niliwaeleza nitasahihisha leo. Shida kubwa mlikuwa nayo ya kupata vitambulisho sasa tumeondoa vikwazo zote. Ile ubaguzi ilikuwepo ya kuulizwa maswali mengi wakati wananchi wa sehemu hii wanatafuta kitambulisho, hayo maswali yote tumeyafuta. Sasa nyinyi mnapata kitambulisho kama Wakenya wengine. Ni kweli ama si kweli bwana? Kweli."
The Head of State also defended the government's massive investment in infrastructure, highlighting the ongoing construction of the Isiolo-Mandera highway as a game-changing project for the region. According to Ruto, improved roads will boost trade, strengthen security, facilitate movement and enhance economic opportunities for pastoralist communities. He emphasized that the government has committed significant resources to ensure the project is completed despite skepticism from critics.
"Jambo la tatu, mimi niliwaambia vilevile ya kwamba tutawajengea barabara kwa sababu barabara ndio inahakikisha kwamba usafiri unakuwa rahisi, biashara inakuwa rahisi, ufugaji unakuwa rahisi, usalama unakuwa rahisi. Na ndio sababu hiyo, hii barabara kutoka kule Isiolo tumeweka pesa ya serikali hapa karibu shilingi bilioni 100 kujenga hii barabara kilomita 750. Watu wengi hawaamini, bado hawaamini ya kwamba hii barabara tunajenga. Lakini kwa macho yenu mnaona. Hii barabara inajengwa ama haijengwi bana? Si inaendelea? Tuko na askari, tuko na makandarasi karibu 11 ambao wanashughulikia hii barabara. Na nimesema ile mambo ilitokea miaka karibu 60 sehemu zingine za Kenya kama Northern Kenya ikachwa nyuma, hiyo tena ubaguzi haitaendelea. Kenya ni moja, sisi wote ni ndugu moja na kila sehemu ya Kenya itapata haki yake ya maendeleo."
Ruto dismissed criticism surrounding the road project and accused opponents of spreading propaganda aimed at undermining government initiatives. He maintained that visible progress on the ground demonstrates that the project is proceeding as planned and expressed confidence that the road will transform Northern Kenya by opening up the region to greater economic activity and investment.
"Hii barabara nimekuja kuangalia na macho yangu kwa sababu propaganda ni nyingi, kwa sababu siasa chafu ni nyingi, kwa sababu matapeli ni wengi. Wale wanasema hakuna kitu inafanyika, wale wanasema haitawezekana lakini tunasema inshallah Mungu atatujalia hii barabara itajengwa na Northern Kenya itabadilika. Ni kweli ama si kweli bwana? Kweli."
The President further outlined several development projects being implemented in Wajir County under the affordable housing, market construction and student accommodation programmes. He said the county has received substantial funding to ensure residents benefit from the government's broader development agenda, adding that no region will be left behind regardless of political affiliation or geographical location.
"Vilevile mimi niliwaeleza ya kwamba wakati tunapanga ile mambo ya maendeleo ingine yote ya Kenya, tutahakikisha hakuna sehemu ya Kenya inawachwa nyuma. Leo katika Northern Kenya nikizungumza kuhusu Wajir County katika ile programu yetu ya affordable housing na markets na mambo ya hostels, Wajir County iko na pesa bilioni 15 ya kujenga masoko 18, kujenga hostels watoto wetu 2,000 na kujenga affordable housing 4,600 hapa Wajir County. Tuhakikishie ile maendeleo inaendelea Kenya ingine pia inaendelea Wajir. Tunaelewana jameni? Tarbaj hapa tunajenga affordable housing. KMTC yenu hapa ama teachers training college yenu tunajenga hostels."
On electricity access, Ruto said his administration is determined to ensure power reaches more homes, schools and institutions across Northern Kenya. He announced that significant funding has already been allocated for electricity connectivity projects in Tarbaj and surrounding areas, saying access to electricity should not remain a privilege enjoyed by only a few communities.
"Jambo la nne, niliwaambia pia stima hatutaki stima iwe starehe ya watu wachache. Hii stima tunataka tuisambaze kila mahali. Huyu mbunge wenu amekuja kwangu tumempatia milioni 800 ya kuunganisha stima ya watu wa Tarbaj hii. Tuko na miradi mbalimbali ambayo inaendelea hapa na mimi nitashirikiana na yeye, nitashirikiana na gavana wenu, mama county, seneta na wale wengine wote tuhakikishe ya kwamba zile miradi zote inatufikishia stima katika sehemu tofauti tofauti ndio tuweke usawa katika taifa letu la Kenya."
Education emerged as another major focus of the President's address, with Ruto urging parents to prioritize schooling and stop keeping children away from classrooms to herd livestock. He stressed that the government is investing heavily in education and warned that denying children access to learning opportunities undermines the future of both families and communities.
"Vilevile mimi nataka niwaeleze ya kwamba tukisonga mbele, tunataka watoto wetu wote wasome. Nyinyi watu wa Kutulo mnanielewa? Tumeweka pesa nyingi kwa kusomesha watoto wetu. Wewe mzazi usifanye makosa. Watoto wanapokwenda shule, umechukua mtoto wako anaenda kuchunga mbuzi; hiyo ni ujinga. Mnanisikia? Sijasema ati ni nini, ni ujinga. Ukichukua mtoto wako badala ya kupeleka shule unamwambia aende achunge mbuzi, hiyo inaitwa nini? Hamtaki kusema inaitwa ujinga."
The President said his administration has recruited thousands of teachers over the last three years and approved the deployment of hundreds more to the region. He called on local administrators to ensure every child attends school and warned that parents who deliberately keep children away from learning institutions could face legal consequences.
"Mimi nimeajiri walimu kwa miaka mitatu. Na nimeajiri hawa walimu kwa sababu hatutaki mtoto wa Kenya akose nafasi ya kusoma. Mbali na wale tumeajiri kwa Kenya, mmesikia nimesema muongezewe walimu 600 ndio tuhakikishe tuko na wanafunzi na tuko na walimu wa kutosha wa kusomesha watoto wenu. Hii mnanielewa? Mnanielewa watu wa Wajir? Mnanisikia watu ya Kutulo? Nimesema watoto wote waende shuleni na mimi nawauliza machifu na viongozi wote wa serikali, mtu yeyote ambaye amechukua mtoto wake akaenda kumchungisha mbuzi ama kondoo badala ya kwenda shule ashikwe apelekwe jela."
Turning to healthcare, Ruto urged residents to register under the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), arguing that enrollment is critical to ensuring universal access to affordable medical services. He said the government has already released billions of shillings to hospitals and emphasized that registration will allow citizens to receive treatment without being burdened by costly medical bills.
"Pesa ya serikali sasa tuko nayo pesa nyingi. Jana sikizeni, jana tumetoa pesa ya serikali shilingi bilioni 12.7 saba kulipa mahospitali ya watu ambao walienda kutibiwa na ili ufaidike na hiyo pesa ya serikali ambayo tunatoa kwa matatibu ya Wakenya, lazima ujiandikishe ndani ya SHIF ndio tukuwe na data ya kusaidia kutafuta wauguzi ama madaktari wa kutosha, tuwe na madawa ya kutosha tuwe na vifaa ya hospitali ya kutosha. Kila mmoja wenu lazima ujiandikishe ndani ya SHIF ndio tuweze kukusaidia kulipa gharama ya hospitali."
The President expressed concern over low SHIF registration rates in Wajir County and challenged residents to enroll so they can benefit from government-funded healthcare. He also highlighted recent investments in medical equipment and maternal healthcare services aimed at improving health outcomes and reducing preventable deaths among mothers and newborns.
"Sikizeni watu wa Kutulo, Kenya Mombasa 85% ya watu wa Mombasa wamejiandikisha kwa SHIF. Kenya ingine yote imepita 70%. Wajir mko 35%. Mnaona iko hasara hapo kidogo? Nyinyi mnangoja nani? Nyinyi mnangoja Yesu arudi ama mnangoja nani arudi? Mtajiandikisha kila mtu ajiandikishe ndio tuweze kuwasaidia na matatibu ya kutosha. Juzi Ijumaa nimetumana vifaa ya hospitali, nilikuwa na gavana wenu huyu Abdullahi nimetuma equipment ya hospitali 30 hapa Wajir."
Ruto also announced plans to improve education infrastructure in Kotulo, including the construction of a new boys' secondary school and support for the existing girls' school. He pledged government funding for classrooms, laboratories and other facilities while emphasizing that communities must play their role by ensuring children attend school.
"Wewe bwana mheshimiwa, mimi nilikuwa hapa nikaenda shule inaitwa Kutulo sindio? Sasa hiyo shule mimi nataka tutengeneze wewe bwana Davis na watu wako tunataka tuwajengee shule mpya pia ya boys pale Kutulo. Sasa mimi nataka tuwajengee shule mzima ya boys kutoka pale grade 10 mpaka grade 12 tujenge three streams, mlete watoto wasome na tutajenga laboratory na tutajenga ile mambo yote inahitajika kwa hiyo shule. Alafu shule yetu ya girls mheshimiwa nitafutie akaunti ya girls nitakutumia milioni 20 tuinue hiyo girl school."
The President further pledged additional support for Kotulo Hospital, including funding and modern equipment to improve healthcare services in the area. He said residents should no longer be forced to travel to Wajir town or Nairobi to access specialized treatment, adding that the government will continue strengthening healthcare infrastructure throughout the region.
"Tuendelee namna hii pia hospitali yetu ya Kutulo hapa tuko na hapa hapa hospitali nataka nimshukuru gavana amefanya kazi mzuri ameinua, lakini mimi nitamsaidia zaidi tutamuongezea hapo milioni 70 ya hiyo hospitali yenu tuinue zaidi na tutakubaliana na gavana wenu vile tutaweka vifaa ya equipment ndio hapa msiende tena kutafuta hospitali ingine kule Wajir ama Nairobi, hospitali yenu itakuwa hapa tutaweka city scan, tutaweka ile vifaa ingine yote."
Concluding his address, Ruto said the recent hosting of Madaraka Day celebrations in Wajir and the planned construction of a State Lodge in the county demonstrate the government's determination to place Northern Kenya at the center of national development. He urged residents to support ongoing projects and rejected what he described as attempts by political opponents to distract attention from development through personal attacks and slogans.
"Sherehe ya Madaraka hapa Wajir nyinyi mnajua hivyo mlikuweko ama nyinyi mnasikia tu kwa radio ama nini? Mlikuwa mlikuweko sasa tumekuja kufanyia maadhimisho ya Madaraka hapa Wajir ndio Kenya nzima ijulikane Wajir ni katikati ya Kenya, sio kando ya Kenya. Na pia nimekuja kujenga ofisi ya rais hapa Wajir sasa hapo iko State Lodge ule mwenye atanifuata apende asipende sasa italazimu yeye akuje aishi hapa. Ndio njia ya kuhakikisha usawa katika taifa letu la Kenya."
Tags: President William Ruto Signs Signs Media Kenya Limited Signs Tv Signsmedia Signstv Signstvkenya William Samoei Ruto Article Edit Editor's Pick Editors choice News Article North Eastern Kenya Security In Eastern And North Eastern Region
Share this article
FELIX MAKONA
FACT FINDER AND DATA DRIVEN JOURNALIST. DATA MINING AT IT'S BEST. GET FACTS RANGING FROM MATTERS DISABILITY AND INCLUSION, POLITICS, ECONOMY, SPORTS AND GENERAL NEWS AROUND THE WORLD