Inside Ruto’s 3-day working tour of Northeastern
The President oversaw several development initiatives in Garissa County.
Among them was the official reopening of the Garissa Passport Application Centre. The President also issued 3,000 title deeds in Garissa Township, effectively doubling the number issued since independence.
President William Ruto inspected the construction progress of the 408-unit Garissa Affordable Housing Project on February 6, 2025. /PCS
On Thursday, President William Ruto was in his third day of a working tour of the Northeastern region, where he supervised various development initiatives in Garissa County.
These included the official reopening of the Garissa Passport Application Centre, which had been closed for a decade since 2014 due to a series of terror attacks in the region and other parts of the country.
The centre now serves as the 10th decentralized passport application center in Kenya, catering to Garissa, Wajir, Mandera, Tana River, and Kitui counties.
“We have established mechanisms to ensure that the people of Garissa and surrounding counties do not have to travel to Nairobi for passport processing,” Ruto stated.
The President also distributed 3,000 title deeds in Garissa Township, doubling the total issued since independence.
Additionally, Ruto laid the foundation stone for a 408-unit affordable housing project in the township.
“Millions of Kenyans live in informal settlements and in unacceptable conditions. This is untenable. That is why we are committed to making our Affordable Housing Programme successful in providing decent shelter,” he remarked.
Furthermore, Ruto officially launched the construction of the Tana River Bridge and approach roads along the Ukasi-Garissa-Modika road.
President William Ruto during the launch of the Tana River Bridge construction on February 6, 2025. /PCS
He stated that the Sh1. 7 billion road project would alleviate the challenges faced by the residents of Garissa and Tana River counties whenever the old bridge was flooded, isolating them from the rest of the country.
Ruto also initiated a livestock restocking program at Soko Ng’ombe for drought-affected households.
A total of 53,000 animals will be distributed to over 10,000 households in 16 ASAL counties under this initiative.
These counties are home to pastoralist communities that rely heavily on livestock for their livelihoods year-round.
The restocking program aims to assist these communities in recovering from significant livestock losses due to frequent droughts in arid and semi-arid regions.
In addition to these activities, Ruto also launched an animal vaccination program at Soko Ng’ombe.
President William Ruto when he launched the animal vaccination program at Soko Ng’ombe, Garissa County, February 6, 2025. /PCS
This program aligns with a nationwide animal vaccination campaign targeting 22 million livestock to combat transboundary diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease.
The initiative spans all counties with the goal of protecting and ensuring the sustainability of the dairy sector.
“We will adequately fund the Kenya Animal Genetic Resources Centre to conduct research in breed improvement and disease prevention for our livestock,” Ruto said.
The President reviewed the modernization of Garissa Airstrip to meet international standards, which includes a new runway and terminal construction.
He noted that the improved airstrip will boost trade and enhance the region’s significant economic potential.
Ruto also toured Garissa High School to observe the government’s pilot project on steam cooking, aimed at reducing firewood usage in school kitchens by promoting cleaner alternatives.
“The program will soon be implemented in schools nationwide,” the President announced.
