Wajir Gears Up to Host Kenya’s 2026 Madaraka Day Celebrations

By Abdimalik Hajir - Reporter

29 May 2026 - Wajir County has shifted into high gear as preparations intensify for Kenya’s 2026 Madaraka Day celebrations, with national and county governments racing to complete key infrastructure projects.

The restive town has for the last one month seen an unprecedented level of development with the 10,000-capacity stadium leading some of the projects that came with hosting the national event.

The town has also witnessed significant road improvements, with modern street lighting illuminating the nightlife in a way the town has never experienced before.

The celebrations, set to place Wajir and the larger Northeastern region in the national spotlight for the first time since Kenya’s independence and its expected to boost economic activity and showcase the region’s cultural heritage and development progress.

There has also been a remarkable increase in security over the last one month, with elite security personnel deployed across the town to ensure all is well during and after this historic event.

The Madaraka Day celebrations being held in the county have been described as highly significant, not only for the development projects accompanying the event but also for their political importance to President William Ruto’s administration. The celebrations are seen as part of the government’s broader agenda of promoting inclusivity and ensuring equitable development across all regions of the country.

ODM youth Nominated member of parliament Umulkheir Harun said successive regimes have marginalised the region noting that while other parts of Kenya are addressing tertiary needs, the region is still dealing with basic needs such as water, roads, power and others.

“For a sitting president to decide for the Madaraka Day to be held in North Eastern is a political statement and message of political goodwill because despite development being our right there has been no political goodwill,” said the youthful lawmaker.

The Mp said the media campaign has soiled the name of the region coupled by past regimes atrocities including Wagala massacre, urging other Kenyans to come during the Madaraka Day event and see besides the culture but also the extent of underdevelopment.

Wajir County Governor Ahmed Abdullahi has pitched tent in the county together with senior government officials racing against time to ensure the stadium is fully completed and all final touches are put in place ahead of the Madaraka Day celebrations.

The governor has been closely supervising the ongoing works to guarantee that the venue meets the required standards before the national fete.

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On Wednesday, after praying the Eidul Adha prayers at Hodhan Primary in Wajir, the Governor sought to dispel ongoing romours that some members of parliament from the region are boycotting the events, there have also been discussions in social media on who actually lobbied for the event to be held in the county.

“Those things you are seeing in social media are propaganda and romours all leaders including Wajir members of parliament will attend and are actually part of the planning of the holiday,” he told residents during the Eid event.

There has also been assumption that opposition allied lawmakers who have been critical to the ruling party will not attend, a speculation now Wajir Governor termed as lies.

Abdullahi praised President Wiliam Ruto for accepting to host the Madaraka day celebration in the county saying he would have opted for areas that have more development.

He told locals that being the first of its kind, they expect high level guests headed by President Ruto, the Deputy President, the speaker of the national and other people from all walks of life.

The Governor said being the first national public holiday being hosted in the region, there will be thousands of people travelling from other counties like Garissa and Mandera.

There have been intense preparations at the new stadium with military parade rehearsal conducted on daily bases, over the weekend the Governor accompanied by Chief of Defence Forces General Charles Kahariri presided over the military rehearsals at the stadium.

General Kahariri besides assessing the stadium and security arrangement also rode of the President’s ceremonial car as Governor and other government official sat on the well-furnished dais.