By Benadeta Mwaura - Reporter
Kenya, June 02, 2026 - Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi Jiir has praised President William Ruto's administration for advancing inclusion and balanced development in Northern Kenya, saying recent government interventions have helped restore dignity, expand economic opportunities and strengthen the region's sense of belonging within the Kenyan nation.
Speaking during the 63rd Madaraka Day celebrations held in Wajir on Sunday, the governor said the decision to host the national event in the county for the first time was itself a powerful statement about inclusion and recognition of a region that has historically felt excluded from mainstream national development.
"Your Excellency, Northern Kenya did not sprout when you became President. Today, it's part of the conversation because you have clearly demonstrated by action that you're concerned about inclusion and about balanced development," the governor said.
"It was therefore a great honour, Your Excellency, when you graciously acceded to our request to host the 2026 Madaraka Day celebrations in Wajir County." He added
The governor mentioned that the President's message of "One Kenya" had resonated strongly across the region, particularly among communities that for decades have struggled with perceptions of marginalisation and unequal access to government services.
"Your Excellency, your proclamation of One Kenya, a Kenya for all, has further strengthened this journey," he said.
Among the most significant decisions cited by the governor was the government's move to end the controversial extra vetting process previously required for residents of border counties seeking national identity cards and other identification documents.
For years, civil rights groups and leaders from Northern Kenya argued that the additional screening requirements disproportionately affected communities in the region, delaying access to essential services and opportunities tied to national identification.
He described the policy change as one of the most consequential acts of inclusion undertaken by the government.
"Nowhere has the spirit of inclusion been felt more deeply than when you came to Wajir County and made a presidential proclamation on the issuance of national identity cards and other identification documents to border counties," he said.
Adding that the lifting of discriminatory vetting in the issuance of identity cards was a profound act of political courage.
By removing what he described as painful barriers of extra vetting and systemic profiling, the governor said the government had done more than simply issue documents.
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"You did more than issue identity cards to deserving Kenyans. You restored our dignity. And you gave us a sense of belonging," he said.
The governor added that the reforms had reaffirmed the principle that every Kenyan citizen, regardless of where they are born, deserves equal treatment and equal opportunity.
"You have strongly affirmed that a child born in Wajir possesses the same rights, the same dreams and the same ownership of the Kenyan promise as a child born anywhere else in the Republic of Kenya."
Beyond matters of identity and citizenship, the governor highlighted the economic and infrastructure gains that accompanied Wajir's hosting of the national celebrations.
He said the county had witnessed significant investment in public infrastructure, including the construction of the new stadium, road upgrades, drainage systems and improvements to Wajir Airport's runway.
"Courtesy of hosting Madaraka Day, this municipality and its environs have benefited tremendously, not only from this magnificent stadium, but also from the construction of additional roads, the carpeting of old roads, drainage works and the overlaying of the airport runway," he echoed.
According to the governor, the projects provided a timely boost to local businesses and created thousands of temporary employment opportunities for residents.
He noted that even the creative economy benefited from the preparations, with local digital creators gaining national visibility as they documented the county's transformation ahead of the celebrations.
"It's been a timely boost for the business community. It created thousands of temporary jobs and enabled self-employment through, among others, content creation. Wajir content creators sprang up overnight and became famous by posting every development taking place in the county," he noted.
The remarks underscored a broader theme that ran through the historic celebrations: that inclusion is not only about representation in national conversations, but also about ensuring that development, opportunities and public investment reach every corner of the country.
For many residents, the first-ever national Madaraka Day celebration in Wajir symbolised a shift toward a more inclusive vision of Kenya, one in which Northern Kenya is no longer viewed as a distant frontier, but as an integral part of the country's future.