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Kenya, 14 November 2026 - President William Ruto has said he has delivered on the promises he made to the Maa community before the 2022 General Election, pointing to the settlement of long-running land disputes and investments in infrastructure, healthcare, education and housing.
He spoke on Saturday at the closing ceremony of the Maa Cultural and Tourism Festival at Sekenani Gate in the Masai Mara Game Reserve, Narok County. Launched in 2014, the festival has grown into a major cultural and tourism event that brings together Maa communities from across Kenya. The President pledged continued financial support for the annual gathering, calling it an important national platform for celebrating Kenya’s cultural heritage and promoting tourism.
He praised the Maa for safeguarding their heritage, saying it has given Kenya a distinct identity worldwide.
“Kenya is known globally because of your culture. You have given us an identity. People worldwide know there is Maa culture in Kenya,” he said.
“We say thank you for what you are doing for this country,” he told the Maa people, who turned out in their thousands.
Land
President Ruto said the Government had made considerable headway in addressing historical land injustices and in making sure communities received what was rightfully theirs. He said he had met his commitment on Kedong Ranch in Narok, where residents are now settled on 10,000 acres.
In Samburu, he said, Marmar Ranch has been returned to the county government and will be subdivided and allocated to residents.
On Maasai Mau Forest, he said the Government had honoured its pledge to resolve the long-standing ownership concerns by issuing a title deed to Narok County. He added that fencing is under way to mark clear boundaries between the forest and nearby settlements.
“We have given the title deed to the county government, and we are fencing off the forest to protect it from encroachment,” he said.
The President said the Government had resolved to return Amboseli National Park to Kajiado County, arguing that the local community’s interests deserve the same recognition as those of the people of Narok in the Masai Mara Game Reserve. He regretted that some individuals are using court cases to obstruct the transfer, but said his administration would answer such opposition with evidence.
On soda ash mining in Magadi, Kajiado County, the President said residents have not enjoyed meaningful benefits in more than a century. He announced that half of the 240,000 acres leased to Tata Chemicals Magadi Ltd will go back to the people of Kajiado. He said other investors are ready to set up value-addition ventures, including glass and chemical production, which would open up more economic opportunities for the community, the county government and the country.
He also announced that the Government had granted the request of the Ilchamus, a Maa-speaking community in Baringo County, for their own sub-county.
President Ruto said national transformation programmes are benefiting Narok, Kajiado and Samburu counties as much as any other, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to fair development that leaves no community or region behind.
In Narok County, he said, 300km of roads are under construction at a cost of KSh22 billion. Narok International Airport is nearing completion and is due to be commissioned early next year, while Kilgoris Airstrip is already complete.
On health, he said Narok Town Level 5 Hospital will be finished within a month, and the Government has set aside KSh 1.7 billion to build another Level 5 hospital in Kilgoris.
On tourism, the President said the Maa have contributed significantly to the growth of the sector, noting that international arrivals have risen from 1.4 million in 2022 to 2.8 million at present. He said the Government is investing in modern tourism facilities, including upgrading Bomas of Kenya into one of the most modern venues in sub-Saharan Africa, able to host major international meetings, exhibitions and conferences.
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“When visitors come to Bomas, we will tell them to come to the Masai Mara and Amboseli,” he said.
He added that a new airport is being built next to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport as part of wider efforts to strengthen tourism infrastructure.
At the ceremony, he commissioned the Ushanga Curio Mall at Sekenani Gate, a modern facility meant to give Maasai women a dignified, organised space to make, display and sell their beadwork. He said it would improve working conditions for women artisans and give them a digital platform for reaching customers around the world.
“The mall has a digital platform where the women can sell their products globally,” the President said.
President Ruto urged the Maa community and its leaders to remain united, acknowledging their role in national leadership and development. He said the Government’s Usawa ni Sawa agenda rests on the principle that no community should be left behind, and assured residents of Narok, Kajiado and Samburu that they would keep benefiting from national programmes.
On politics, he criticised politicians who try to shape election outcomes through ethnic voting blocs, saying Kenyans must be free to choose leaders on performance and track record.
“They think they will decide for Kenya. They will be in for a rude shock,” he said.
“Let’s reject politics of division. Every leader must be elected based on their track record.”
He urged young people to shun political mobilisation that could expose them to violence, destruction and lawlessness.
“To young people, don’t be part of those who harm, cause mayhem and violence,” he said.
He asked residents to embrace peaceful political competition, hear out all aspirants and make independent choices.
“Listen to all leaders. Let aspirants sell their agenda. Listen to all and then make a decision,” he said. “Let’s avoid violence by all means.”
Cabinet Secretaries Hanna Cheptumo (Gender, Culture and Heritage), Soipan Tuya (Defence) and Aden Duale (Health) attended, as did Governors Patrick ole Ntutu (Narok), Lati Lelelit (Samburu) and Simba Arati (Kisii). Principal Secretaries Ummi Bashir (Culture) and Julius Bitok (Tourism) and Narok Senator Ledama ole Kina were also present.
CS Duale said the Government has prioritised fair development across the country, including pastoralist communities, and that the President faces opposition because of his commitment to equity.
Ms Cheptumo described culture and heritage as key pillars of national unity, pride and progress.
Governor Ntutu urged residents to back President Ruto’s re-election in 2027, citing his development record.
Governr Arati said former Prime Minister Raila Odinga had left the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) under the broad-based arrangement with the United Democratic Alliance (UDA). He urged the Maa community to stay united and support the President for a second term.