North Eastern Kenya is poised for renewed economic momentum following a series of major government investments spanning infrastructure, higher education, affordable housing, and youth enterprise support unveiled during President William Ruto’s development tour of Garissa County.
Central to the transformation agenda is the ongoing upgrade of the Garissa Airstrip, a project the President said is progressing ahead of schedule and within budget.
Once complete, the modernised facility will feature an expanded runway capable of accommodating larger aircraft and increased flight frequency, a move expected to raise annual passenger traffic by more than 200,000 and significantly enhance regional connectivity.
The airstrip modernisation is widely viewed as a strategic gateway project aimed at unlocking trade, tourism, and investment opportunities across Northern Kenya, a region long constrained by limited transport infrastructure.
Alongside infrastructure development, the government rolled out targeted youth empowerment initiatives under the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) programme.
At Garissa High School grounds, President Ruto oversaw the disbursement of KSh 63 million in start-up capital to 2,520 young entrepreneurs, including refugees, underscoring the program’s commitment to inclusivity and equal economic opportunity.
The President noted that NYOTA was deliberately designed to be transparent, accountable, impactful, and fully inclusive, with the broader goal of harnessing the creativity, energy, and skills of young people to drive national transformation.
Investment in education also featured prominently in the development package.
The President laid the foundation stone for a modern tuition block at Garissa University valued at KSh279 million, a project expected to expand teaching capacity and improve the learning environment.
In addition, the government is investing KSh750 million in new college and university hostels that will accommodate more than 1,700 students, addressing longstanding student housing shortages.
Further boosting the region’s urban growth prospects, the President inspected progress at the Garissa Township Affordable Housing Project, part of the national housing programme aimed at improving living standards while generating employment opportunities in the construction sector.
Collectively, the infrastructure upgrades, youth enterprise funding, and education investments signal a coordinated push to accelerate socio-economic development in North Eastern Kenya, aligning with the government’s broader agenda of inclusive growth and regional equity.
Leaders and residents in the region have welcomed the projects as long-awaited catalysts for opportunity, expressing optimism that improved connectivity, expanded education infrastructure, and access to start-up capital will stimulate business growth, job creation, and long-term prosperity.
As implementation progresses, the success of the initiatives is expected to hinge on sustained investment, efficient project delivery, and continued support for youth and local enterprises, factors seen as critical to translating development promises into tangible economic transformation across North Eastern Kenya.