By Nuh Mohamed - Reporter
WAJIR, Kenya, June 1, 2026 (Dawan Africa) Kenyan President William Ruto has issued a formal apology to the people of Northern Kenya for decades of marginalisation, saying his government is working to correct what he described as a historical injustice that has persisted for more than 60 years.
Speaking during Madaraka Day celebrations in Wajir County, Ruto said Northern Kenya had suffered years of state-sanctioned neglect following policy decisions made after independence, resulting in under-investment and missed development opportunities.
“On behalf of the Government and the Republic of Kenya, I extend my sincere apology to the people of Northern Kenya for the hardships and exclusion you have endured over the years,” Ruto said.
The president said his administration was pursuing a new development agenda aimed at restoring equity and expanding opportunities across the region.
Ruto highlighted investments in education, including the establishment of teacher training colleges in Wajir, Kotulo and Mandera. He said more than 4,600 teacher trainees from the region are currently enrolled in training institutions.
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He also announced plans to integrate Duksi (Koranic Schools) Madrassa (Religiuos schools) and pastoral education programmes into Kenya’s national education system through a new framework being developed by the Ministry of Education.
In healthcare, Ruto said more than 800,000 residents in Northern Kenya had registered with the Social Health Authority, which has paid KSh8.1 billion in claims to hospitals in Wajir, Garissa and Mandera.
The president further announced KSh38.5 billion in investments under the Affordable Housing Programme and pointed to progress on the KSh100 billion Northern Kenya Gateway Corridor project linking Isiolo, Wajir and Mandera counties.
Ruto also unveiled plans for a KSh5 billion County Livestock Investment Company aimed at supporting more than 350,000 pastoralists in arid and semi-arid counties.
“No part of Kenya should ever be left behind because of geography, history, or politics,” Ruto said, pledging continued efforts to integrate Northern Kenya into the country’s broader economic transformation.