President William Ruto has reaffirmed the government's commitment to ending the historical marginalisation of Northern Kenya through sustained investments in infrastructure, economic development, and public service delivery.
Speaking after concluding a three-day development tour of Wajir and Garissa counties, the President said the government remains focused on unlocking the immense potential of the region and ensuring that communities in Northern Kenya fully benefit from the country's development agenda.
The President thanked residents of Wajir and Garissa for their support, hospitality, and engagement throughout the visit, describing the tour as an opportunity to assess ongoing projects and reinforce the government's commitment to inclusive national growth.
“We have concluded our three-day tour of Wajir and Garissa counties, reaffirming our commitment to ending the historical marginalisation of Northern Kenya through sustained investment in development programmes and infrastructure,” President Ruto said.
For decades, Northern Kenya lagged behind other regions in access to infrastructure, economic opportunities, and public services.
However, the government says deliberate investments are now being made to reverse this trend and integrate the region more fully into the national economy.
Among the key projects inspected during the tour was the ongoing construction of the 257-kilometre Lamu-Ijara-Garissa Road, a major component of the larger 453-kilometre LAPSSET Corridor Development Project.
The KSh17.9 billion road project is expected to significantly improve connectivity between the Coast and Northern Kenya while creating new opportunities for trade, investment, tourism, and regional integration.
Once completed, the road will provide an alternative transport corridor linking Lamu Port to Northern Kenya and neighbouring countries, strengthening Kenya’s strategic position as a regional trade hub.
Government officials say the project will also improve security by enhancing access to previously remote areas and facilitating faster movement of security personnel and services.
In addition, the road will serve as an important evacuation route supporting operations at Lamu Port.
The President noted that strategic infrastructure investments such as the LAPSSET Corridor are central to the government's vision of creating equitable development across all regions of the country.
The road is expected to stimulate economic activity along the corridor by reducing transportation costs, improving access to markets, and attracting private sector investment into sectors such as logistics, trade, agriculture, livestock, and tourism.
Leaders in the region have welcomed the project, saying improved road connectivity will strengthen links between communities and open up new opportunities for businesses and investors.
The development also complements ongoing investments in roads, education, healthcare, security, water infrastructure, and industrial development across Northern Kenya, including projects currently underway in Wajir, Garissa, Isiolo, Mandera, and other frontier counties.
President Ruto emphasised that the government's development agenda is guided by the principle that no region should be left behind.
“Together, we will continue working to unlock the immense potential of Northern Kenya and ensure that no region is left behind in our country's transformation journey,” he said.
As implementation of major infrastructure projects continues, the government expects Northern Kenya to emerge as a key driver of economic growth, regional trade, and investment, helping to transform communities that have historically faced development challenges into centres of opportunity and prosperity.
The President's tour highlighted the growing importance of Northern Kenya within Kenya's broader economic transformation agenda and underscored the government's determination to use infrastructure development as a catalyst for inclusive growth and national integration.