Author: Abdihakim Siyad

In a deeply emotional and historic moment for Northern Kenya, Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi delivered a powerful address during the Madaraka Day celebrations held at Wajir Stadium, expressing gratitude to President William Ruto for what he described as a transformative shift in the region’s sense of belonging and national identity. The celebrations, which brought thousands of residents to the stadium, marked a symbolic milestone as Madaraka Day was hosted in Wajir County for the first time, elevating the region’s national visibility and reinforcing the government’s ongoing narrative of inclusive development. Governor Abdullahi, visibly emotional throughout his speech, said the decision…

For decades, discussions about Northern Kenya have often focused on drought, insecurity and underdevelopment. During his Madaraka Day address in Wajir, President William Ruto sought to present a different narrative one that places the region at the centre of Kenya’s future economic growth. Addressing thousands of residents at Wajir Stadium, the President argued that Northern Kenya should no longer be viewed through the lens of hardship but through its immense economic potential. “For too long, Northern Kenya was viewed through the lens of scarcity. Today, we recognise its immense potential in renewable energy, livestock production, irrigated agriculture, trade, logistics and regional…

Livestock, long regarded as the backbone of life in Northern Kenya, took centre stage during President William Ruto’s Madaraka Day address in Wajir, where he unveiled a major plan aimed at transforming the pastoral economy into a structured, investment-driven sector. In Wajir, Mandera and Garissa counties, livestock is more than an economic activity. It pays school fees, supports families during drought, drives local trade and defines community survival. Yet for decades, the sector has remained underdeveloped, with limited access to financing, markets and value addition. President Ruto acknowledged this imbalance in his speech. “For decades, pastoralism was regarded as one…

Among the many announcements made during the historic Madaraka Day celebrations in Wajir, none carried as much political and emotional significance as President William Ruto’s defence of reforms to the registration and issuance of national identity cards in Northern Kenya. For decades, the process of acquiring an identity card in counties such as Wajir, Mandera and Garissa has remained one of the most contentious issues in the region. Many residents have long argued that they were subjected to additional vetting procedures not experienced by citizens in other parts of the country, often leading to delays, frustration and feelings of exclusion.…

Beyond the historic apology to Northern Kenya, education emerged as one of the defining themes of President William Ruto’s Madaraka Day address in Wajir. Delivering his speech under the theme “Education, Skills and the Future,” the President outlined an ambitious vision aimed at addressing long-standing educational challenges in Northern Kenya while preparing a new generation for a rapidly changing economy. For decades, communities in Wajir, Garissa and Mandera have faced barriers to quality education, including teacher shortages, inadequate infrastructure and limited access to higher learning institutions. President Ruto argued that education remains the most powerful tool for overcoming those challenges.…

On a day meant to celebrate Kenya’s journey toward self-rule, President William Ruto used the national stage in Wajir to confront a painful chapter of the country’s history. As thousands of residents packed Wajir Stadium for the first-ever Madaraka Day celebrations to be held in Northern Kenya, the President delivered a speech that went beyond the traditional themes of patriotism and development. Instead, he acknowledged decades of exclusion, discrimination and neglect that many communities in Northern Kenya have long argued defined their relationship with the Kenyan state. For Wajir County, the occasion was historic. Since Kenya attained self-rule in 1963,…

President William Ruto on Sunday launched a series of major development projects in Wajir County and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to accelerating development in Northern Kenya, saying no region of the country should be left behind. The Head of State began his development tour in Habaswein, Wajir South Constituency, ahead of the 63rd Madaraka Day celebrations set to be held in Wajir on Monday, marking the first time in Kenya’s history that the national event is being celebrated in the county. President Ruto commissioned the Habaswein Solar PV-BESS-Diesel Hybrid Power Plant, a KSh639 million investment designed to provide reliable, affordable…

Wajir County on Thursday officially launched the Education Week Exhibitions ahead of the 63rd Madaraka Day celebrations, marking the beginning of a series of education-focused activities aimed at promoting innovation, skills development, and youth empowerment in northern Kenya. The event, held at Wagberi Primary School in Wajir Town, brought together students, teachers, education stakeholders, county leaders, technocrats, innovators, and representatives from the national government. The launch formed part of the nationwide thematic activities being conducted ahead of this year’s Madaraka Day celebrations. The chief guest at the event was the Principal Secretary for Higher Education and Research, Dr. Beatrice Muganda…

A dangerous political storm is gathering over central Somalia. Behind the walls of Villa Somalia, inside tense security meetings and closed-door political negotiations, a fierce power struggle is unfolding over the future of Galmudug one that now threatens to fracture alliances at the highest levels of government and potentially plunge the region into violent confrontation. What began as a political disagreement over leadership succession is rapidly transforming into one of the most volatile crises President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has faced since returning to office. Troop movements. Internal betrayal. Clan tensions. Security fears. Political isolation. All of it is now colliding at…

In one of his strongest and most politically charged speeches in recent months,President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud launched a blistering attack against Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi Cirro over reports that Somaliland is planning to establish a representative office or diplomatic presence in Jerusalem. Speaking shortly after Eid prayers, the Somali president delivered an emotionally charged address centered on religion, sovereignty, Palestine, and national unity, warning that Somalia would never tolerate what he described as an attempt to legitimize Israeli control over Jerusalem through Somaliland. The remarks immediately ignited political debate across Somalia and Somaliland, with many observers describing the speech as one…