Africa-Press – Kenya. Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has criticised past regimes for sidelining residents of Northern Kenya in development distribution.
He faulted previous vetting processes that made it difficult for locals to obtain identification documents, including National Identity Cards and Birth Certificates.
“It was very hard and cumbersome for people from Northern Kenya to get identification documents before 2022. But President Ruto promised that, once elected, he would ensure everyone is served equally. He fulfilled that on 5th February this year when he made his proclamation in Wajir to abolish that retrogressive policy. All Kenyans, regardless of religion or ethnicity, are now served equally,” the Deputy President said.
Speaking on Monday at Water Grounds in Garissa Town, Garissa Township Constituency, during an empowerment event for small-scale traders affected by the Suq Mugdi fire tragedy in July this year, Kindiki said the government is taking deliberate steps to end historical marginalisation in the region.
He cited the reopening of the Garissa Passport Office, which had remained closed since 2019 and was officially reopened by President Ruto in May, as one of the measures to promote equality and access to government services.
The Deputy President also inspected the upgrading of the Garissa Airstrip at a cost of Sh710 million, which includes Sh110 million contributed by the County Government of Garissa.
He further inspected the ongoing construction of the Tana River–Garissa Bridge, being built at a cost of Sh1.7 billion, to ease transportation between the two counties.
Kindiki reaffirmed the government’s commitment to accelerating development and restoring equal opportunities across Northern Kenya, saying the region had been sidelined for decades but is now witnessing significant investment in infrastructure and public services.
He announced that the ongoing construction of the 750-kilometre Mandera–Wajir–Isiolo Highway, valued at Sh100 billion, will improve mobility, reduce commodity prices, open up economic activity, and strengthen security.
The project is expected to be completed before 2027.
“This is the longest road to be constructed by any government since independence. The road from Mandera–Ramu–Garre–Elwak–Kobo–Kotulo–Tarbaj–Wajir–Samatar–Modogashe–Kula Mawe to Isiolo is on course,” Kindiki said.
He also announced the construction of a 370-kilometre Lamu–LAPSSET corridor linking Lamu–Ijara–Garissa–Isiolo Road, as well as the planned Garissa–Dadaab–Liboi–Harhar corridor, which will connect Kenya to Somalia.
The Deputy President added that the government has invested Sh13 billion in affordable housing, fresh produce markets, and student hostels in Garissa.
Other key projects include the Tana River Bridge in Garissa Town, worth Sh1 billion, and last-mile electricity connections valued at Sh1.7 billion, which will benefit about 7,200 households in the county.
At the same time, Kindiki expressed concern over high child mortality rates in Northern Kenya and assured residents that the government will continue strengthening healthcare access through the Ministry of Health to reduce preventable deaths.
“I support Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale when he says we must work very hard as a government, at both levels, to reduce child mortality in Kenya,” he said.
The event was attended by Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah, Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot, Garissa Deputy Governor Abdi Dagane, and several Members of Parliament.
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