Wajir Leaders Praise New State Lodge as Key for Regional Development

June 02, 2026 - Local leaders in Wajir County have hailed President William Ruto’s Move to commission the newly constructed Wajir State lodge, maintaining that the facility will cement the national government’s presence in the Northern Kenya region.


Speaking during the 63rd Madaraka Day celebrations in Wajir, Governor Ahmed Abdullahi Jiir said the State Lodge will address decades of historical marginalisation in the region and serve as a testament to President William Ruto's efforts to transform and elevate Northern Kenya.

 The Wajir county chief said that the state lodge will also serve as a tribute to prominent leaders such as the former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who had tremendous respect for the North Eastern Region and its leaders.

The Head of State has already met with some members of his cabinet at the new state lodge during the course of his tour in the county; however, Governor Abdullahi pushed for the lodge to host the region’s first-ever full cabinet meeting.

In his tour in Wajir this week, the Head of State is utilizing the newly established Wajir State Lodge to host leaders from Wajir, Mandera, and Garissa counties.

He has unveiled multi-billion shilling projects for North Eastern Kenya, including expanding Wajir Airport, building the stadium, and supporting livestock, in a bid to position  Wajir and Northern Kenya as an economic powerhouse in the country.

“You have brought the highest office in the Republic of Kenya here in Wajir, your excellency. In many years, you have become our resident 001, and I look forward to you holding the first cabinet meeting here at the Wajir State Lodge,” Abdullahi said.

 Abdullahi has stressed the need for private investors to follow the government’s footsteps and invest in the North-Eastern countries.

“To every investor, entrepreneur, and young dreamer watching from across the country and beyond, I say this to you: do not wait for the future of Wajir to arrive; become part of it, invest in it. And grow it together with us,” Abdullahi said.

 On his part, the Head of State apologised to the Northern Kenya counties and their leaders for decades of pronounced marginalisation and historical injustice.

According to  Ruto, some policy decisions made over  60 years ago did not favour the region, thus resulting in underinvestment and other missed development opportunities.

 Ruto said that his administration has, over the past three years, developed a framework to ensure that the region receives fresh development projects,  restoring equity and expanding investment opportunities across the region.

 Other notable projects launched in the region included the establishment of teacher training colleges in Wajir, Kotulo, and Mandera, a Ksh 84 billion electrification programme that is set to benefit 53,000 households in Northern Kenya, and a Ksh 5 billion investment plan to boost the pastoral economy in the region.

“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.