Politics took centre stage in President William Ruto’s tour of northern Kenya on Saturday, with his messaging touching on voter registration, development goodies and swipes against the opposition.
Reminding locals about his stoppage of extra vetting for northern Kenya residents who wanted to get national IDs, Dr Ruto said the government is fast-tracking the issuance of the document.
He called on residents to register for IDs and as voters so that they participate in the country’s electoral process.
“It is a constitutional right for every citizen to be given an identification card and thus participate fully in the affairs of the republic of Kenya,” he said at the Mandera Stadium during a women empowerment function.
He also took time to clap back against the opposition, comprising his former deputy Rigathi Gachagua among others, describing them as people full of hatred and anger.
“We have people in this country full of hatred, insults and anger. They have no plan for this country. I pity these people. They cannot even lead a cow,” said Dr Ruto in Banisa constituency during the thanksgiving ceremony for area Member of Parliament Ahmed Hassan Maalim.
President William Ruto, Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi (left), Mandera Governor Mohamed Adan Khalif (second left) and Mohamed Abdikheir Lafey MP (right) arrive for the Women Empowerment in Mandera Stadium, Mandera County.
Photo credit: PCS
“I think they are not well. We shall help them by registering them to SHA [Social Health Authority] and taking them to hospital,” he added.
The President told residents of Banisa that the opposition team lacked a plan for the country while boasting of having both a development plan and funding strategy.
“In everything I do I have a plan on how it will get funded. We have the National Infrastructure Fund that has already netted Sh100 billion and I am targeting another Sh200 billion,” he said.
He insisted that the National Infrastructure Fund is about development of the country and correcting past political injustices across the country.
“We want to build 28,000 kilometres of road under this plan from the 20,000 that we currently have since independence.
“Those opposing this fund are living in the past. We plan and how to get resources to implement this plan unlike the opposition,” he said.
“Don’t be bothered by those making a lot of noise with hatred. They are full of hatred because they have no knowledge on how to plan for this country,” he said.
“They have gone around threatening people, even the President. When you see someone going around with a lot of hatred and threats, they are not well. I am telling them to go slow and reduce noise and insults on Kenyans,” he added.
In his bag of goodies, President Ruto dished out Sh10 million to each of three secondary schools in Banisa constituency.
A local women beekeeping women group got Sh1 million while the locals were appreciated with Sh5 million to feast for electing Mr Maalim, a UDA lawmaker, as the Banisa MP in the November 2025 by-election.
President Ruto pledged to ensure Banisa town gets water from the Tarama borehole, about 10 kilometres away, announcing an investment of Sh350 million to supply water to Banisa town.
Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) Party Leader Rigathi Gachagua (second right) addressing a press briefing at the SKM Centre on April 15, 2026. With him are (from left) Wiper Party Leader Kalonzo Musyoka, Jubilee Deputy Party Leader Fred Matiangi and Democratic Action Party-Kenya (DAP-K) Party Leader Eugene Wamalwa.
Photo credit: Francis Nderitu | Nation Media Group
Another Sh330 million will be spent in road improvement within Banisa town while Sh600 million will go into a housing project in the constituency.
“We can only reach Singapore by building our own country and we want all these developments because we have to live a comfortable life,” he said.
At the women empowerment function at the Mandera Stadium, Dr Ruto said no part of the country will be left behind.
“We will transform the entire country through development projects and programmes, and the Northern Kenya region will be at the centre of that transformation,” he said.
He was accompanied by governors Mohamed Adan Khalif (Mandera), Ahmed Abdullahi (Wajir) and Mohamud Mohamed (Marsabit), Cabinet Secretaries Aden Duale (Health) and Geoffrey Ruku (Public Service), MPs and MCAs.
To address the chronic power shortages in Mandera County, he announced that the government was installing nine generators to ensure a stable power supply.
The government says that plans are at “an advanced stage” to connect Mandera to the electricity grid on the neighbouring Ethiopian side, which is 70 kilometres away.
He also noted that the government is investing in transport infrastructure in the region, including the 750km Isiolo-Mandera road.
“We have eight contractors on site on the Mandera-Isiolo road,” he said.
To support education in the region, President Ruto said the government has established teachers’ colleges in Northern Kenya to train teachers locally.
Through affirmative action, the government is employing 1,800 teachers locally to ensure stability and continuity of education in the region.
On preparations for Madaraka Day celebrations on June 1, which will be held in Wajir, Dr Ruto said Wajir Stadium will be complete ahead of time.
