President William Ruto has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to ensuring equitable development across every corner of Kenya, declaring that no region will be left behind in the country’s transformation journey. Speaking during the Madaraka Day celebrations in Wajir County, the President said his government is intentionally addressing decades of exclusion, neglect and marginalisation through targeted investments under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
The Head of State emphasized that the Kenya Kwanza administration is implementing development projects across all regions regardless of geography, ethnicity or historical disadvantage. He noted that the government’s focus is on ensuring that every Kenyan enjoys equal access to opportunities, services and national resources as guaranteed by the Constitution.
President Ruto said the BETA agenda was designed as a deliberate inclusion strategy to ensure that economic growth and public investments reach all parts of the country. He explained that the government has rolled out transformative programmes in infrastructure, healthcare, education, water, housing and agriculture, with some projects already completed and others progressing steadily.
According to the President, significant investments in roads are helping unlock the economic potential of previously underserved regions. He highlighted the Ksh100 billion Northern Kenya Gateway Corridor linking Isiolo, Wajir and Mandera as one of the most ambitious infrastructure projects undertaken in the region since independence, noting that the 750-kilometre road will improve connectivity, trade and access to essential services.
The President said the government is also investing heavily in water infrastructure and dam projects to support agriculture, livestock production and economic resilience. These initiatives, he explained, are transforming areas long associated with drought and scarcity into productive regions capable of contributing significantly to national food security and economic growth.
In the healthcare sector, President Ruto noted that the government is expanding medical facilities, equipping hospitals and strengthening access to quality healthcare services across the country. He said the investments are aimed at ensuring that residents in remote and historically neglected areas receive the same standard of healthcare as those living in major urban centres.
Education remains a key pillar of the administration’s development agenda. The President pointed to the construction and upgrading of schools, expansion of higher education opportunities and increased investment in learning infrastructure as evidence of the government’s determination to empower young people and create equal opportunities for future generations.
The affordable housing programme, one of the flagship projects under BETA, was also highlighted as a major driver of economic inclusion. President Ruto said the initiative is creating employment opportunities for thousands of young people while simultaneously addressing the housing deficit and stimulating local economies in towns and cities across the country.
The President further cited reforms in the issuance of national identity cards as part of broader efforts to eliminate discrimination and promote equal citizenship. He noted that residents from previously marginalized communities can now obtain identification documents without unnecessary vetting, delays or bureaucratic barriers that had previously hindered access to government services.
Addressing residents of Northern Kenya, President Ruto stated that the region is no longer on the periphery of national development but has become central to the country’s economic future. He said the area possesses enormous potential in renewable energy, livestock production, irrigated agriculture, logistics and regional trade, all of which are receiving increased government attention.
The President stressed that his administration’s development philosophy is guided by the belief that every Kenyan deserves dignity, opportunity and inclusion. He maintained that national unity can only be achieved when all communities benefit from development and feel fully integrated into the country’s economic and social progress.
President Ruto said the decision to host the 2026 Madaraka Day celebrations in Wajir was symbolic of the government’s commitment to equitable development. He reaffirmed that investments under the BETA agenda will continue across the country, ensuring that from Busia to Mandera, Turkana to Kwale, and Kisumu to Mombasa, every region shares in Kenya’s prosperity and no citizen is left behind.
