By Hassan Adan

Residents of Mandera have called on President William Ruto to prioritize lasting solutions to persistent power outages and unreliable mobile networks ahead of his expected visit to the county tomorrow.

Community members say frequent electricity blackouts continue to disrupt businesses, healthcare services and daily life, compounding long-standing development challenges in the region.

“We urge the president not to leave Mandera without a clear, long-term solution to the power problem,” said Sharmake Derow, a resident of Mandera town
“These outages are affecting every aspect of life here.” he added

Residents also raised concerns over poor mobile network coverage, calling on Safaricom to improve service reliability.

They say communication disruptions have affected trade, emergency response and access to essential digital services.

The visit also comes amid anticipation over the planned reopening of the Kenya–Somalia border at Mandera, a move expected to revive cross-border trade and reconnect communities after years of closure.

For many residents, however, the immediate priority remains access to basic services. While broader economic initiatives are welcomed, locals say reliable electricity and communication infrastructure are critical to daily life and business activity.

During his last visit to Mandera, President William Ruto pledged to boost infrastructure in northern Kenya, including the construction of an airport in Mandera starting in April, aimed at enhancing connectivity and promoting economic growth in the region.

He assigned the Kenya Defence Forces to undertake the project, which is expected to include a terminal building and related infrastructure.

However, a section of the community opposed the plan, arguing that the land earmarked for the project is communal property primarily used for grazing, and that no consultations or discussions on compensation had taken place.

As the president returns to the region, residents say they are looking for President Ruto to address the challenges affecting their daily lives.