Elders from Wajir County are to present President William Ruto with 100 camels after the county was chosen to host the country’s 63rd Madaraka Day celebrations for the first time.
The announcement was made Monday by Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi during the first-ever hosting of Madaraka Day, Kenya’s annual commemoration of self-rule, in this historically marginalized northeastern county.
The governor said the gift carries deep symbolic weight in the region’s pastoralist traditions, where such offerings represent the highest honour traditionally reserved for kings or paramount leaders.
“In our culture, when you honour someone, the highest honour is given to kings. The elders of Wajir have said that you are our king, and they will give you 100 camels to be delivered at a place of your choice. You are our sultan,” the Governor told the gathering celebrating Madaraka Day at Wajir Stadium.
Governor Abdullahi described the choice of venue as a “defining moment” for Wajir and the broader northeastern region, one that signals full integration into Kenya’s future.
“The people of Wajir have waited for this day,” he said. “This celebration sends a powerful message that Wajir is part of Kenya’s shared imagination.”
Wajir, a key trading hub near the borders with Somalia and Ethiopia, has deep historical roots, including some of the country’s oldest educational institutions. Yet the region has also endured decades of marginalization, security challenges, and painful episodes such as the 1984 Wagalla Massacre.
Devolution under the 2010 constitution, combined with recent central government initiatives, has improved access to services, officials say.
Health care has expanded dramatically: from a single doctor serving the entire district before 2013 to more than 76 medical officers and over 1,100 healthcare professionals today.
Preparations for Madaraka Day accelerated local infrastructure projects, including a new stadium, road upgrades, drainage improvements, and enhancements at Wajir Airport.
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