By Abdimalik Hajir - Reporter
Kenya, 29 November 2025 - Security is significantly tightened across Masalani town in Ijara, Garissa County, as residents and officials prepare for the imminent arrival of President William Ruto.
Multi-agency teams are sealing off key roads, conducting thorough checks, and maintaining a highly visible presence to ensure the safety of the high-profile visit.
The President is scheduled to commission several development projects in the area, with particular focus on the official launch of an affordable housing initiative aimed at improving living conditions for local families.
Later today, President Ruto is expected to grace the wedding ceremony of the son of Noordin Haji, the Director General of the National Intelligence Service. As such, there have been heavy security presence at Haji's home, with strict access limited to officials and family members.
The event, blending national leadership with a personal family celebration, is drawing considerable attention from the community and adding a festive note to the presidential itinerary.
The head of state is also slated to officially open Yussuf Haji Girls secondary school’s new infrastructure, the school ‘s projects development that its development has been overseen by Haji.
The project, according to the handlers, is aimed at delivering an accessible, climate-responsive and welcoming school environment using simple construction methods and locally appropriate materials ensuring long term sustainability and educational impacts for the surrounding community.
President William Ruro who is visiting the constituency for the first time since he was elected is also expected to grace the wedding ceremony of the son of Director General National Intelligence service Noordin Haji.
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Haji, who has been personally supervising the preparations, has put up elaborate mechanisms to welcome the head of state who is also expected to bring goodies to a county that has suffered insecurity brought about by Somali based al-shabab militant.
It’s the third time a sitting President is coming to the constituency after 1997 President Moi’s visit where he gave out Ijara constituency and President Kibaki’s Visit in December where he opened Masalani-Tana River bridge which was intended to connect the landlocked Ijara district to the coastal province.
During Kibaki’s visit, he launched the construction of Lamu-Ijara-Garissa road, a key part of Lapsset (Lamu port-southern Sudan-Ethiopia Transport).
Residents who perhaps never felt such high state power were amused with the heavy security presence and high end vehicles that have taken over their restive town.
“Since I was born and have opened this pharmacy, I have never witnessed such an activity in my town, there have been improvement on the roads which is significant to myself and other people in this town, we welcome President Ruto to Ijara,” said Hussien Diriye Yussuf, the owner of Nasri pharmacy located at the heart of Masalani town.
He said the President should make other visits to ensure development of his government is felt by every Kenyan notwithstanding where they come from.
