WAJIR, Kenya – Wajir County stepped into the national spotlight on Monday, June 1, as Kenya marked the 63rd Madaraka Day celebrations for the first time in the North Eastern region.
President William Ruto led the celebrations at the newly constructed 10,000-seater Wajir Stadium, where thousands of residents, leaders and invited guests gathered for the national event.
The occasion marked a historic milestone for Wajir and the wider North Eastern region under the theme “Education, Skills and the Future.”
In the lead-up to the celebrations, the government undertook major infrastructure upgrades across Wajir Town, including road improvements, street lighting, water connections and renovations at Wajir International Airport.
President Ruto also commissioned several projects on the eve of the celebrations, among them electricity connectivity programmes and other initiatives aimed at boosting economic activity in the region.
The festivities began with a colourful display of military precision as units drawn from the Kenya Defence Forces, National Police Service and other security agencies marched into the stadium in a coordinated parade before the President.
Crowds cheered as the security personnel performed synchronised drills, showcasing discipline and operational readiness.
The celebrations later shifted to the skies as military helicopters conducted a fly-past above the stadium as well as cultural performances.
Beyond the ceremonial displays, the event carried significant political and symbolic weight as Kenyans reflected on the country’s journey since attaining internal self-rule in 1963.
Wajir governor Ahmed Abdullahi hailed the event, noting that Northern Kenya is now firmly part of the national conversation.
