President William Ruto has reaffirmed the government's commitment to accelerating development across Northern Kenya by increasing investment in infrastructure, water, energy, irrigation and economic opportunities as part of efforts to address years of marginalisation in the region.
The President made the remarks after meeting leaders from Northern Kenya at State House, Nairobi, where he held talks with representatives from Isiolo, Marsabit, Garissa, Wajir and Mandera counties on development priorities and the challenges facing residents.
The meeting was led by Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale and attended by Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi, Garissa Governor Nathif Jama and Mandera Governor Mohamed Khalif, among other leaders from the region.
President Ruto said the government is working with leaders from Northern Kenya to ensure that development reaches every part of the region while addressing the issues that have slowed its growth for many years. He said the partnership between the national government and county leaders is intended to improve access to services and create opportunities for residents.
"We are working closely with the leaders of Northern Kenya to address the challenges facing the residents in an effort to accelerate the region's transformation," President Ruto said in a statement posted on his social media accounts.
The Head of State stated that the government has adopted policies aimed at ending decades of marginalisation by ensuring that all regions benefit from public investment and development programmes. He said the focus is on expanding access to services while creating economic opportunities that will improve the livelihoods of people living in Northern Kenya.
"Our deliberate policies are ending decades of marginalisation by ensuring equitable development, expanding access to essential services and creating more economic opportunities for the people," he said.
President Ruto said one of the key measures that will support development in the region is the recently established National Infrastructure Fund, which he said will provide resources for major projects that are expected to transform Northern Kenya.
According to the President, the fund will support investment in energy generation, water harvesting and storage, as well as irrigation projects that are expected to unlock the region's industrial and agricultural potential.
He said reliable water infrastructure and improved energy supply will help increase agricultural production while creating conditions that encourage investment and business growth across the five counties and other parts of Northern Kenya.
The President also noted that expanding irrigation will allow more land to be put under cultivation, helping communities improve food production while opening up new sources of income for residents.
The meeting formed part of ongoing consultations between the national government and leaders from different regions as the administration seeks to implement development projects aimed at improving infrastructure and expanding access to public services.
Northern Kenya has for many years faced challenges linked to limited infrastructure, inadequate water supply and access to essential services. The government says its current investment plans are intended to close those gaps by directing more resources to projects that support economic growth and improve the lives of residents.
The discussions at State House focused on strengthening cooperation between the national government and county administrations to ensure that planned development programmes are implemented effectively and that communities across Northern Kenya benefit from the investments.
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