Excitement and jubilation in Wajir as county hosts Madaraka Day fete

Aerial view of the Wajir stadium located in Wajir town./MINA

Hundreds of delegates from Garissa and Mandera counties arrived in Wajir yesterday ahead of the national Madaraka Day celebrations today at the newly constructed Wajir International Stadium.

The Star has learned that local chiefs and administrators, with the help of local leaders, were tasked with mobilising and identifying elders and residents from their respective villages to attend the event presided over by President William Ruto.  Hundreds of buses were subsequently deployed to ferry delegates, while others travelled in school buses.

“I received a text message in addition to being asked by the chief to represent my village. I am delighted to be among the delegates witnessing this historic moment,” said Mzee Mohamed Abdi, one of the delegates from Garissa County.

The town has in recent weeks been filled with excitement, hope and anticipation.

For the first time in Kenya’s history, a national celebration is being held in the far north, something residents had previously only watched on television.

On Sunday, senior government officials and county political leaders were in the final stages of preparations for the national event, which is expected to attract thousands of participants, government officials and guests from across the country.

Wajir County Traffic Base Commander Ibrahim Gedi on Sunday outlined the traffic management plan motorists will be required to follow during the celebrations.

He said some roads would be temporarily closed to facilitate the movement of the President, senior government officials and political leaders, while others would be reserved exclusively for delegates.

He added that traffic would be diverted from areas along the President’s route, with alternative roads designated for motorists.

Vehicles heading into Wajir town from either Garissa or Mandera will be redirected to bypass routes on the outskirts of the town.

Gedi further noted that delegates attending the event from various areas had been assigned designated entry routes, where police officers would be stationed to provide guidance and ensure smooth movement.

“All officers deployed along these routes will be on hand to direct traffic. We urge motorists to cooperate and follow instructions from the police,” he said.

He added that vehicles carrying dignitaries, including CSs and PSs, would be parked at Amma Primary School, while security vehicles, including those from the KDF, would be stationed at Nurie College.

Over the past month, Wajir has witnessed an unprecedented wave of development, with the 10,000-capacity stadium emerging as the flagship project linked to the hosting of the national event.

The town has also experienced significant infrastructure improvements, including road upgrades and the installation of modern street lighting, transforming its night-time landscape in a manner residents say they have never witnessed before.

The celebrations have placed Wajir and the larger North Eastern region in the national spotlight for the first time since independence.

Leaders and residents alike believe the event will boost economic activity while showcasing the region’s rich cultural heritage and development potential.

Security has also been significantly enhanced over the past month, with elite security personnel deployed across the town to ensure the celebrations proceed smoothly and safely.

The Madaraka Day celebrations have been described as highly significant, not only because of the development projects accompanying them but also because of their political importance to President William Ruto’s administration.

Observers view the event as part of the government’s broader agenda of promoting inclusivity and ensuring equitable development across all regions of the country.

Mohamed Hussein, 70, an elder from Balambala and among those travelling to Wajir for the celebrations, called on Kenyans from other parts of the country to understand the excitement expressed by residents.

“I am an elder, and with the years God has granted me, I have witnessed many things. Very few things excite me anymore. But this truly does. Never in my wildest imagination did I think a national celebration would one day be staged in this region,” he said.

“So Kenyans from other parts of the country should bear with us when we seem unusually excited whenever the national spotlight turns northwards. For many of you, such moments may feel routine, just another government event, but for us it is a completely different story,” he added.

In an interview last week, Eldas MP Aden Keynan and chairman of the Northern Kenya Parliamentary Group said the hosting of the national celebration is a clear affirmation that the people of Wajir and the larger Northern Kenya region are an integral and valued part of Kenya’s national fabric.

“History is not merely being written; it is being magnificently redefined before our very eyes,” Keynan said, noting that the decision to host the celebrations in Wajir represents a powerful statement of inclusion, recognition and national unity.

“For the first time since Kenya attained independence, the resilient land of Northern Kenya has been accorded the singular honour of hosting a national event. This is a proud and emotional moment for our people,” he said.

On Sunday, Keynan, who led a host of leaders and constituents in visiting the stadium, acknowledged that the privilege of hosting the national occasion had catalysed remarkable transformation across Wajir county, profoundly redefining its status and outlook.

For the past several months, Governor Ahmed Abdullahi has been leading preparations for the celebrations, working closely with senior government officials to ensure the stadium was completed on time and all necessary arrangements put in place.

The governor has personally supervised the ongoing works to ensure the venue meets the standards required for a national event. Abdullahi praised Ruto for agreeing to host the celebrations in Wajir, noting that the President could easily have selected counties with more developed infrastructure.

He told residents to expect high-profile guests led by President Ruto, the Deputy President, the Speaker of the National Assembly and other dignitaries from across the country.

The governor also noted that thousands of visitors from neighbouring counties, including Garissa and Mandera, were expected to attend the event.

Preparations at the new stadium have intensified in recent weeks, with military parade rehearsals being conducted daily.

Over the weekend, the governor, accompanied by Chief of the Defence Forces General Charles Kahariri, presided over one of the final rehearsals at the stadium.

General Kahariri inspected both the stadium and the security arrangements and also rode in the President’s ceremonial vehicle as the governor and other government officials observed proceedings from the newly furnished dais.

The county now stands ready to host a historic Madaraka Day celebration, an event many residents hope will mark a new chapter of recognition, inclusion and development for Wajir and the wider North Eastern region.

A section of the Wajir International stadium./STEPHEN ASTARIKO

Eldas MP Aden Keynan and chairman of the Northern Kenya Parliamentary Group, with other leaders and students at the newly constructed Wajir International Stadium that will host the fete. /STEPHEN ASTARIKO

Eldas MP Aden Keynan and chairman of the Northern Kenya Parliamentary Group admires the newly constructed Wajir international stadium./STEPHEN ASTARIKO

Residents of Wajir were going about their business on Friday last week. The county will host this year's Madaraka Day national celebrations./STEPHEN ASTARIKO