Madaraka fete: Wajir elders gift Ruto 100 camels in appreciation

Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi has announced that the people of Wajir, through their council of elders, will present President William Ruto with 100 camels as a special token of appreciation for what he described as the President's unwavering commitment to the development, inclusion, and empowerment of Northern Kenya.

The announcement was made during the 2026 Madaraka Day celebrations hosted in Wajir County at the Wajir stadium.

"As a gesture of gratitude for your service to our people and your commitment to ensuring that Northern Kenya is fully part of Kenya's development story, the elders of Wajir have agreed to gift Your Excellency 100 camels," the Governor declared.

His remarks were met with loud cheers, applause, and celebrations from thousands of attendees gathered at the historic national event, underscoring the deep appreciation many residents feel towards the Head of State's administration.

It was a clear affirmation that President Ruto's efforts to promote inclusion, equity, and development in what was perceived as a previously marginalised region have resonated deeply with the people of Northern Kenya.

Throughout his speech, Governor Ahmed praised President Ruto's leadership, particularly highlighting efforts aimed at promoting inclusion and correcting historical injustices that have long affected Northern Kenya.

"Your Excellency, Northern Kenya did not sprout when you became President. It is part of the national conversation today because you have clearly demonstrated through action that you are concerned about inclusion and balanced development," the Governor said.

He noted that it was a great honour for Wajir County to host the 2026 Madaraka Day celebrations, thanking the President for graciously accepting his request to bring the national event to the region.

Governor Ahmed further lauded President Ruto's "One Kenya, A Kenya for All" agenda, saying it had strengthened national cohesion and created space for healing and reconciliation.

"Your Presidential Proclamation for 'One Kenya, A Kenya for All' has further strengthened this journey, opening a courageous space for national healing and helping to stitch together a once-wounded past into a shared future of unity, equity, and prosperity for all," he said.

The Governor reserved special praise for the President's recent proclamation ending the discriminatory vetting process previously required for the issuance of national identity cards in border counties.

"Nowhere has that spirit of inclusion been felt more deeply than in the recent Presidential Proclamation on the Registration and Issuance of National Identity Cards to Border Counties," he noted.

"The lifting of discriminatory vetting in the issuance of identification documents was a profound act of political courage. By removing the painful barriers of extra vetting and systemic profiling, you did more than issue identity cards to deserving Kenyans; you restored dignity and their sense of belonging."

According to the governor, the reforms have reaffirmed the constitutional rights of residents from the region and strengthened their connection to the Kenyan nation.

"You have strongly affirmed that a child born in Wajir possesses the same rights, the same dreams, and the same ownership of the Kenyan promise as a child born anywhere else in this Republic. For that profound act of justice, the people of Wajir and the entire North Eastern say: Shukran," Abdullahi said.