President William Ruto is intensifying efforts to secure backing in the Northeastern region, which is increasingly seen as a pivotal political asset that may prove crucial for his re-election in 2027.
Unlike other areas, the opposition has not established a prominent leader in the Northeastern, an expansive territory with a continually expanding voter base.
Furthermore, the coalition headed by Wiper Leader Kalonzo Musyoka and DCP’s Rigathi Gachagua has not yet conducted campaigns in this extensive area.
National Assembly Majority Whip Silvanus Osoro criticized the opposition, noting that certain presidential hopefuls have never visited Wajir.
This remark followed Ruto’s leadership in commemorating Madaraka Day in Wajir, a milestone for both the county and the region since independence.
“I’m certain there’s a presidential candidate who has never set foot in this region and doesn’t realize it’s part of Kenya. They believe Kenya consists only of their home areas or Nairobi. When they speak, they claim Kenyans have rejected something,” Osoro stated.
“To be declared president, one must secure at least 25 percent of votes from at least 24 counties,” added the Mugirango South MP.
Gachagua recently launched a significant conflict with Northeastern regional leaders, including MPs and governors, accusing them of misusing devolution funds.
This came after he stirred controversy by proposing that students from outside the Mount Kenya regionparticularly from places like Northeastern Kenyashould not receive preferential admission to elite national schools in the Mount Kenya area.
Gachagua has indicated he is directly engaging with Northeastern voters who, he claims, are victims of financial misconduct by their leaders.
Nevertheless, Ruto’s UDA party maintains its strong position in the area.
The governing party decisively secured victory in the recent Isiolo South by-election and also triumphed in another contest in Garissa Township.
Moreover, all major leaders, comprising all governors from Northeastern, are aligned with the President.
Ruto has implemented a comprehensive strategy centered on security, infrastructure, education, and political inclusion to garner support from Wajir, Mandera, Garissa, Marsabit, and Isiolo counties.
Several leaders have noted that Ruto has initiated the most significant development initiatives for a region historically linked to marginalization, insecurity, and underdevelopment.
“The broader Northern Kenya region is receiving complete government attention to implement affirmative action measures addressing historical errors,” stated Deputy President Kindiki Kithure when asked about the renewed focus.
He further mentioned that the government was building markets, housing, and electricity initiatives.
Additional residents are being encouraged to enroll in the Taifa Care universal health insurance program.
Kindiki noted that improved access to national identification documents had terminated decades of discrimination and enhanced the government’s inclusivity agenda.
“It has not only restored dignity to all Kenyan people but also advanced the inclusivity agenda by ensuring that the nation’s development projects are distributed fairly,” he stated.
The choice to host this year’s Madaraka Day celebrations in Wajir has been praised by local leaders as a transformative moment.
Analysts observe that the outreach to Northeastern, supported by regular presidential visits occasionally led by Kindiki, represents a strategic maneuver.
Collectively, the counties of Mandera, Wajir, Garissa, Marsabit, Isiolo, and neighboring Turkana represent approximately 1.28 million registered voters.
These figures could be vital for Ruto given the divisions he has experienced in the Mount Kenya vote, which enabled his rise to power in 2022.
This development is believed to complement his efforts in Nyanza and the Coast, which were traditional opposition strongholds during the Raila Odinga era.
Political commentators note that although Northeastern may not match Mount Kenya in total voter numbers, the region votes uniformly when local leaders unite behind a specific candidate.
Ruto has dedicated most of the year to strengthening connections with the region through development initiatives, policy changes, and frequent visits.
Central to the government’s outreach is the Isiolo-Mandera road, a 760-kilometer corridor passing through Isiolo, Wajir, and Mandera counties.
This project, which is part of the Sh100 billion Northern Kenya Gateway Corridor, is considered the most significant ongoing infrastructure investment nationwide and a potential transformative development for the region.
Upon completion, the road will link Kenya to Ethiopia and Somalia, open trade prospects, enhance security, and dramatically reduce travel times that have long limited economic growth.
Among these initiatives, the most politically significant change may be the elimination of discriminatory verification processes for national identity cards.
For many years, thousands of Kenyan Somalis faced difficulties obtaining identification documents, restricting access to voting, banking services, employment opportunities, and mobile phone registration.
Currently, with simplified registration procedures, thousands are acquiring IDs for the first time.
Speaking at the Madaraka Day celebrations in Wajir, Ruto defended these reforms and promised that his administration would accomplish even more.
“We did not eliminate citizenship verification. We ended discrimination,” he stated.
The President also apologized for decades of state neglect, admitting that previous administrations had not sufficiently invested in roads, schools, healthcare, and water infrastructure.
“I apologize deeply to our people. This was never supposed to happen,” Ruto said, noting that hosting Madaraka Day in Wajir aligned with the promise to “leave no one behind.”
The administration has also invested billions in the Last Mile Connectivity Programme, committing to end the traditional dependence on lanterns and diesel generators.
The government has additionally implemented livestock restocking programs through the National Disaster Management Authority and the Livestock Development department to assist pastoralist communities in recovering from consecutive droughts.
Education has surfaced as another fundamental element of the administration’s approach.
Classrooms, laboratories, and teacher training facilities have been constructed throughout the region ‘to address persistent disparities between Northeastern and other parts of the country’.
At the Madaraka Day celebrations, Ruto announced plans to establish a university in Wajir.
He indicated that the process would begin this year once land is secured.
This would be the second institution of higher learning in the region following Garissa University.
The President also revealed plans to build a civilian terminal at Wajir International Airport.
He also emphasized the recruitment of 1,800 teachers from Wajir, Garissa, and Mandera counties, the activation of teacher training colleges in Wajir, Kotulo, and Mandera, and the enrollment of over 4,600 trainees from the region in teacher training institutions.
After these deliberate measures, several leaders from the region have already expressed support for Ruto beyond 2027.
Health CS Aden Duale stated, “Northeastern has experienced its first liberation under President Ruto. When the next election comes, we know where our votes will go, and it’s for a second term.”
“Our people stand with President Ruto. We will give him 100 percent support in the election. He need not worry because we have witnessed the government’s presence,” stated Marsabit Governor Ali Mohamud.
Petroleum Principal Secretary Kello Harsama mentioned that residents were encountering government presence in a manner they had never experienced before.
“For the first time since independence, we have a government we can truly call our own. From 1963 onward, we have been compelled to claim we were in power when, in truth, we were not,” Harsama explained.
“The only way we can express our gratitude is by waking up early in August 2027 and granting Ruto a second term. We have people obtaining IDs for the first time.”
Eldas MP Adan Keynan indicated that backing for Ruto stems from trust and appreciation for the administration’s attention to historically marginalized areas.
“Ruto’s administration has invested in infrastructure, education, security, and economic empowerment throughout Northern Kenya,” he noted.
“This has renewed hope in a region long overlooked, and for that reason, we stand firmly behind him.”
Another education commitment involves incorporating Duksi, Madrassa, and pastoral learning systems into the national education framework.
President Ruto instructed the Ministry of Education to create a framework that officially acknowledges alternative educational pathways.
“This will ensure that every child, irrespective of background or situation, has a recognized pathway to education, skills, and opportunities,” he stated.
For political strategists, this action could enhance Ruto’s position among religious leaders and families who consider the recognition of Duksi and Madrassa education as an issue of cultural inclusion.
Public Service CS Geoffrey Ruku has also been broadening government services, including the issuance of birth certificates, national IDs, and other essential documentation.
The competition for the region’s support has begun.
Opposition figures, including Gachagua, Kalonzo, former Interior CS Fred Matiang’i, Martha Karua, and Eugene Wamalwa, are anticipated to pursue the region as coalition formation intensifies leading up to 2027.
Nevertheless, regional leaders assert that Ruto would enter that competition with a distinct advantage. “Unlike many of his opponents, he can reference concrete measures already underway in the region,” Duale noted.
ANALYSIS
As the 2027 elections approach, the political landscape is becoming clearer. Northeastern, with its expanding electorate and exceptional government focus, is no longer an afterthought in electoral calculations. It is developing into one of the nation’s most crucial battlegrounds.