President William Ruto’s administration has mounted an aggressive charm offensive in the Northeastern region ahead of the 2027 General Election, deploying a multi-pronged strategy anchored in infrastructure, security, and socio-economic development.
The region covering Marsabit, Mandera, Isiolo, Garissa, and parts of Upper Eastern has long suffered from historical marginalisation. Kenya Kwanza now appears determined to integrate it into the political mainstream. Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, who is spearheading the campaign, describes the push as “affirmative action to correct historical mistakes” and unlock the area’s economic potential.
Central to the plan is the 760-kilometre Isiolo–Mandera road, the country’s largest ongoing infrastructure project. Once completed, it will connect Kenya to Ethiopia and Somalia, slash travel times, improve security, and boost cross-border trade. The project has been divided among multiple contractors to fast-track completion.
Beyond roads, the administration has abolished discriminatory vetting requirements for national identity cards, a policy that had long disenfranchised Kenyan Somalis. The streamlined registration process has restored citizenship rights, enabling access to banking, SIM registration, and voting.
Billions have been channelled into the Last Mile Connectivity Programme to bring electricity to households, while markets, housing projects, and health insurance registration drives are underway. Livestock restocking initiatives are addressing drought-induced losses among pastoralists, and new classrooms and laboratories are reshaping education.
Senior leaders from the region, including Marsabit Governor Ali Mohamud and Eldas MP Adan Keynan, have pledged full support for President Ruto’s re-election bid, citing unprecedented government attention. “For the first time since independence, we have a government we can call ours,” said ASALS and Regional Development PS Kello Harsama.
The administration’s outreach also includes grassroots enterprise support, with extended trading hours made possible by electricity access. Public Service CS Geoffrey Ruku has overseen efforts to ensure residents can obtain essential documents such as birth certificates and IDs.
With the 2027 elections approaching, political observers say Northeastern has shifted from being a neglected periphery to a high-stakes battleground. Kenya Kwanza’s calculated investments could cement the region’s loyalty—and potentially shape Kenya’s political landscape for the next decade.
