By: Abdihakim Siyad
Wajir -Leaders from Northern Kenya strongly expressed their support for President William Ruto during the 60th anniversary celebrations of Wajir High School on Saturday.
They accused sections of the media, civil society, and religious institutions of unfair criticism and biased reporting on the government.
Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi, who is also the Chairperson of the Council of Governors, said it was unfair to subject the president to daily attacks despite his democratic election.
“The media and civil society are being extremely unfair to President William Ruto. It is not reasonable to speak of constitutional rights when police stations are being burnt down and people’s lifetime investments are being destroyed,” said Governor Abdullahi.
He urged Kenyans to give the government time to deliver on its mandate, adding that any grievances should be addressed through legal and electoral means.
“We need to give the administration time to implement its agenda. In two years, Kenyans will have the opportunity to vote again,” he added.
Mandera Senator Ali Roba called on the Somali community to begin voter registration early in preparation for the 2027 elections.
He described President Ruto as the most inclusive head of state the region has ever had.
“We will never get a better president than William Ruto. Let us mobilize and ensure we re-elect him come 2027,” said Roba.
Wajir North MP Ibrahim Abdi Saney echoed Roba’s remarks, stating that the long-standing challenge of access to national identification documents in the region had been addressed under Ruto’s administration.
“We used to lack IDs and birth certificates. That excuse is now over. We must ensure our people are registered as voters, and we must deliver 3 million votes,” said Saney.
Wajir West MP Yussuf Farah criticized recent remarks by former Defence CS Eugene Wamalwa, who had alleged that the government was issuing identification cards to refugees from Somalia to rig the 2027 election.
“We are not refugees in this country. We are Kenyans, and we should not be subjected to that kind of falsehood,” said Farah.
Wajir Woman Representative Fatuma Jehow, in a brief address, affirmed the region’s full support for President Ruto’s re-election.
“Sisi maneno yetu ni kidogo tu — ni two-term, tunangoja debe iletwe,” she said.
Health Cabinet Secretary Adan Duale emphasized the president’s constitutional responsibility to uphold peace and the rule of law, while recalling the injustices suffered by communities in Northern and Coastal Kenya under past regimes.
President Ruto took an oath to protect the Constitution, the rule of law, and to ensure peace and stability. No government should return to the era of extrajudicial killings,” said Duale.
We must also not forget the historical injustices — the Wagalla massacre, Garissa massacre, and Malka Mari.”
The event, attended by national and county leaders, saw education and politics take centre stage, with strong indications that the North Eastern region is preparing early for the next general election.
