By Dawan Africa - Admin
June 1, 2026 - Celebrations in Kisii for the Madaraka day celebrations are progressing.
10:54 am: The President, his wife Rachel Ruto leaving the event.
10:53 am: The Kenya National Anthem being played indicating the end of the Madaraka Day 2026 event at the Wajir Stadium.
10:52 am : The President assures the region that he will walk with them shoulder to shoulder in everything to ensure the region is recognized more.
10:50 am : President Ruto commits in his last statements that Wajir will get funding to build the University of Wajir, and he further asked the residents to put aside land to ensure it starts.
10:49 am: The President agrees to the request that the Wajir Stadium be renamed the Ahmed Khalif Wajir Stadium. He further declared that funding has been allocated to upgrade the Wajir International Airport promising to have a functioning civilian terminal by the end of 2026.
10:47am : The President stated that Kenya rejects the thinking that communities in distant areas should not have or deserve development. He said that on this independence day, he is showing development is possible. He further said Wajir is Kenya, and North Eastern is Kenya assuring the residents of Wajir that all that happened before will never happen again.
10:44am: He also mentioned the importance of water and the intention of building mega dams as well as smaller dams in the region and other areas in Kenya to ensure irrigation and better agricultural output. He further stated that what was once remote will become strategic to the country.
10:43 am : The President further assured Kenyans of the importance of the region and how he is unlocking the future being envisioned and the potential of the area.
10:34 am: The President hinted on the importance of pastoralism to the Kenyan economy and to its people. He declared that a livestock restocking program is going to be established with over 10,000 households in its mandate in arid and semi arid lands, helping families restore wealth and pastoralist to restore livelihoods. He further talked about building expanded breeding programs ,market infrastructure in the region.
The County will also deploy a number of agriprenuers who will be tasked to provide last mile agricultural services and support the area in the transition to climate smart agriculture. He further stated that 7000 agriprenuers were already driving smart agriculture in the country.
He further talked about how this initiative has made meat exports increase, together with milk production with dairy exports growing. This he said translates to stronger markets for the region's products and higher incomes for the pastoral community.
In addition he mentioned a kshs 5bn Pastoralist initiative to support pastoralists across 21 counties to own livestock development companies and gain access to finance, insurance and learn how to add value to their produce.
Phase 1 of the initiative is to improve the lives of 200,000 members by registering these companies and strengthen pastoral cooperatives and invest in the infrastructure to improve the area's ability to gain entry to premium export markets. He also added the area must move from live animal exports to higher value ones. Northern Kenya he believes can be the gateway of exports to the region and to the world.
10:32 am : The President also mentioned the investment in the 750 km Northern corridor linking Isiolo, Garissa and Wajir road marking the largest investment since independence in the road system . He further said that building this road, is building towards inclusivity ,linking the Kenya that was and the Kenya that is being built.
10:30 am : President Ruto stated Ksh 15.6 billion has been invested in the affordable housing projects ,markets and others in the works in the region ,stating how this is one of the largest development projects the area has had since independence, ensuring local enterprises and the youth get jobs and more.
10:27 am : The President mentioned the state of the health system in the area, SHA especially, which has seen a huge registration number in the region. The President also mentioned how the Labour mobility program is building its presence in the region and the digital hubs being built to ensure the youth in the area benefit.
10:16 am : The President mentioned his awareness of alternative education systems in the area and their importance for learners in the region and other parts of the country. He has directed that these alternative education systems should begin being supported to ensure that every child in the country is able to learn.
10:24 am : The President also mentioned how vocational colleges are going to ensures people build the country through skills from the bottom up and the region will not be any different.
10:23 am : The President mentioned that more teachers have been employed and the problem of teacher shortages in the region is being solved by locals being trained and employed as teachers to bring this problem to a close .
10:19am: The President further stated how his Gvt has deliberately invested in Northern Kenya especially concentrating on education, further saying how Kenya is moving towards better learning to compete on the global stage. The President added how he is impressed by how current learners are choosing STEM subjects showing what the future is leaning to and the future these learners expect.
10:12 am : President Ruto talked about how IDs system in Kenya was never made to benefit the locals in the region. He said the constitution ensures that everyone was is equal and he has taken steps to end the system of discrimination in getting birth certificates and IDs. People are now getting them on time and without discrimination . He warned that this change was not for foreigners to take advantage of the system but for Kenyans in the region to benefit.
10: 11 am - Ruto stated how the former Northern Frontier was previously classified as undeserving and a hardship area that has made it face many hardships and suffering. The President said he is changing this outlook with the constant development he is pioneering one step at a time. The President apologized for all the problems and neglect the Northern Frontier area has undergone, saying it was never supposed to be this way.
10:09 am: "Self rule is not who has power but building a country worthy of the sacrifices made" : President Ruto
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10:07 am: The President takes the stage greeting the people and he is received warmly. He affirms that this is the first time such an event is being held in the region and that the event shows that Madaraka belongs equally to every Kenyan.
10:04 am: The Deputy President mentioned the developments under way, like the roads in development and the power stations in development to ensure the area develops. Kindiki further mentioned how the national infrastructure fund will be used to build and develop the area.
10:01 am : The Deputy President thanks the President for the big step in inclusivity by including the Northern Frontier in national celebrations and the progress he has ensured by making the development projects be felt in the region and in the whole country.
9:58 am : The Governor thanked the late Raila Odinga and the late Ahmed khalif for his political journey and asked the President to honor the late Ahmed Khalif by naming the Wajir Stadium after him. He showed his thanks to the President by informing him of a gift for him from the people of Wajir, with the elders offering the President 100 camels to be brought to a place of his choice and further continued wishing the country as a whole a Happy Madaraka Day 2026.
9:55am : The Governor further thanked the President for the infrastructure development in the region like the affordable housing program and the proposed State lodge in the region.
9:52 am : The Governor further mentioned the challenges, the exclusions that have been faced by the region . The Governor mentions asking for the President's approval to hold the celebrations in the county as an honor. He continued that the gains the region has had including the level 5 hospital hospital the President will commission later on in the day are incredible.
9:49 am: Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi, thanking the President for giving the county the honor of holding the celebrations. Saying the day marks a great day for Wajir showing its integrated with the whole nation. He further says the people will remember this day by doing what was deemed impossible.
9:31 am: Traditional dances to entertain the crowd
9:25 am : Wajir students entertain the crowd with formations and creations showing how they are truly gifted
Students form Madaraka day at Wajir stadium through formations
President Ruto presiding of the fete in Wajir Stadium as security formations form in celebration of the 63rd Madaraka Day celebrations
8:44 am - President Ruto arrives at Wajir stadium
8:38 am: Various dignitaries arrive at the Wajir stadium such as Wajir Governor and the head of National intelligence Service
8:00 am: The National Madaraka Day celebrations program begins at Wajir Stadium
7:30 a.m : The parade is fully formed up, and authorities stop movement near the main ceremonial area to maintain order for the arrival of dignitaries and the start of the official program. Kenyans settle down for the celebrations.
7:00 a.m.: Long queues at the Wajir Stadium as people arrive for the 20226 Madaraka day celebrations
5.30 am : 6.30 am - Security and traffic plans take effect; specific diversion routes are created for motorists approaching Wajir town while those attending head towards the stadium.
Kenya marks Madaraka Day today on June 1, 1963 the day we gained self-rule. The 63rd national celebrations is being held at the newly upgraded Wajir Stadium in Wajir County , the first time the national fete is hosted in northern Kenya since independence.
The celebrations at the new 10,000-seater Wajir Stadium is being framed as a symbol of national inclusion and development in Northern Kenya.