The decision by the Government of Kenya to designate Wajir County as the host of the 2026 Madaraka Day celebrations brought with it social and economic transformations. Following the designation, the national government mobilised and directed over Ksh2 billion to Wajir to construct and maintain roads, refurbish public facilities and improve public spaces. The projects were aimed at ensuring that Wajir is fully prepared to host the celebrations in a dignified and befitting manner. Over and above the Madaraka celebrations, the improved facilities will serve Wajir residents and economy long after the Madaraka Day celebrations. This government practice is one of the benefits that accrue from the rotational hosting of national celebrations in counties. The development projects stay in the counties and with the people beyond the staging of the national celebrations. The projects are a windfall for the hosting county.
The government’s flagship Madaraka projects in Wajir County include six critical road projects implemented by the Kenya Urban Roads Authority at a cost of Ksh1.9 billion. The road projects cover 25.1 kilometres of newly constructed and rehabilitated roads in and around Wajir town. The Furaha Girls – Wajir Stadium Road and the A2 – Manyalo Junction and Stadium Ring Road provide direct access to the stadium. The access roads to the County Commissioner’s residence, affordable housing units, County Police Commander’s offices, Wajir Museum and Police Quarters unlock key government and residential facilities.
The 9-kilometre Airport – Basabra – Furaha School – Stadium Link Road provides swift movement from the airport to the stadium and will remain a vital corridor in the town. The project involves overlay works, road improvement and enhancement of non-motorised transport facilities. On the other hand, the B13 Miyale Road Drainage Enhancement Project tackles flooding in the central business district and improves access to Wajir County Assembly. The Access Road to the Wajir County Aggregated Industrial Park is arguably the most economically transformative project. By connecting the industrial park to the road network in the town, the road facilitates manufacturing and trade, reducing the cost of doing business and positioning Wajir as a competitive industrial hub in northern Kenya.
The national government has also constructed the new 10,000-seat Wajir Stadium, comprising a VIP pavilion, a football pitch, an athletics track and parking areas. The stadium will serve as a permanent home for sports and community events and promoting youth development. At the Wajir Airport, the government recarpeted the 1.2-kilometre runway and rehabilitated the access road. The airport upgrade enhances Wajir’s connectivity with the region and the rest of Kenya. The airport is critical for attracting investment, facilitating trade and supporting humanitarian logistics. The State Department for Internal Security and National Administration spearheaded refurbishment of the Wajir Ciunty Commissioner’s residence, encompassing a main house, external works, landscaping, CCTV installation and a perimeter wall. The government has also installed street lights in Wajir that have seen visible transformation and enhanced trade and improved safety in the town at night.
Collectively, the investments represent an unprecedented injection of capital into Wajir town. The benefits reach far beyond the celebrations. Improved roads will reduce travel times and transport costs for traders, farmers and residents, while enhancing access to schools, hospitals and government services. Better drainage in the town will address the chronic flooding that paralyse business and public life during rains. Collectively, the projects employed over 700 people, injecting money into the pockets of local wananchi.
The successful completion of the projects in time for the celebrations not only reflects effective coordination among implementing agencies but also underscores the government’s determination to use national events as catalysts for sustainable development and economic empowerment. This 63rd Madaraka Day is a proud moment for Wajir County as it stands before the nation in admiration. Beyond the cherished celebrations, Wajir residents will benefit from the new and rehabilitated roads, stadium, airport and street lighting. The projects have transformed Wajir town, enhanced mobility, improved public amenities, created employment opportunities and stimulated local economic activity, leaving behind a lasting development legacy for the people of Wajir County. In a sense, true freedom (madaraka) has become part and parcel of the life of Wajir County and the wider northern Kenya.
The theme of this year’s Madaraka Day celebrations—Education: Skills and the Future—is apt and resonates with the urgency of the moment. In a rapidly changing world, where technological transformation is redefining economies and reshaping the nature of work, Kenya’s greatest asset consists of the knowledge, skills and resilience of its people. This theme calls upon all stakeholders, both government and private, to invest boldly and purposefully in education as the surest path to sustainable national development.
Happy Madaraka Day 2026.
Dr Raymond Omollo, CBS.
Principal Secretary for Internal Security and National Administration &
Chairman of the National Celebrations Steering Committee