As Kenya moves towards the 2027 General Election, the political significance of the country’s Cushitic population is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.
In the Northern region, particularly Garissa, Wajir and Mandera, as well as the Cushite-populated areas of Isiolo and Marsabit, political loyalties are being shaped by a combination of development, security, citizenship, representation and a growing sense of recognition by the national government.
It would be an overstatement to suggest that Kenyan Cushitic have collectively decided to support President William Ruto’s re-election. The community remains politically diverse, with local interests, personalities, clan dynamics and national alliances continuing to influence political choices.
Nevertheless, there is a growing argument among sections of the community that the Ruto administration has addressed issues that have long occupied the political and social consciousness of Kenyan Somalis. From access to identification documents and passports to roads, public facilities, security and appointments to senior government positions, the administration has sought to demonstrate a stronger presence in a region that has historically complained of neglect.
For many voters, therefore, the question is no longer simply about political alliances. It is about whether they are experiencing a different relationship with the Kenyan state.
A community shaped by history
To understand the political mood in Northern Kenya, it is necessary to understand the history behind it.
For decades after Independence, the former Northern Frontier District experienced a complicated relationship with the Kenyan state. The Shifta War, emergency measures, restrictions on movement, collective punishment and security profiling left a deep impression on generations of Cushitic Kenyans.
The legacy of that period extended well beyond the conflict itself. For many residents, particularly those living in border areas, questions surrounding citizenship and documentation remained sensitive. The perception that Cushitic Kenyans had to provide additional proof of their Kenyan identity contributed to a long-standing feeling of exclusion.
The history explains why seemingly administrative issues can carry considerable political weight.
An identity card is not simply a government document. It establishes a person’s formal relationship with the state. A passport similarly represents recognition of citizenship and the ability to participate in the wider world as a Kenyan.
The Ruto administration’s decision to remove additional vetting requirements for identification documents in border counties was therefore significant beyond the bureaucracy involved. For many residents, it represented recognition that citizenship should not be treated as conditional because of where someone lives or the community to which they belong.
Few issues have resonated with Kenyan Cushitic as strongly as citizenship.
For years, residents in parts of Northern Kenya faced additional scrutiny when seeking identification documents. The process was widely viewed within the community as discriminatory and as evidence that Cushitic Kenyans were sometimes treated differently from citizens in other parts of the country.
The government’s decision to change that system has consequently been interpreted as more than an administrative reform.
The establishment of a regional immigration office in Garissa has also brought passport services closer to residents who previously had to travel considerable distances to access them. Such changes may appear routine from Nairobi, but in a region where distances are vast and transport can be expensive, bringing government services closer to citizens has practical as well as symbolic importance.
The larger message is one of inclusion; that government services should be accessible to Northern Kenya in much the same way they are accessible elsewhere.
For a community that has historically questioned whether it receives equal treatment from the state, that message carries political significance.
Roads and the opening up of Northern Kenya
Infrastructure is another major factor shaping perceptions of the government.
For decades, poor roads contributed to Northern Kenya’s economic isolation. Long distances between towns, difficult terrain and inadequate transport infrastructure made it more expensive to move people and goods and limited access to markets, schools, healthcare and other services.
The road network is therefore particularly important in Northern Kenya.
The Ruto administration has placed considerable emphasis on projects connecting the region to the rest of Kenya and neighbouring countries. Among the most significant is the Horn of Africa Gateway Development Project, which covers major sections of the Isiolo, Wajir, Garissa and Mandera corridor.
For communities that have heard promises of development for generations, the political importance of these projects will ultimately depend on completion and quality rather than announcements.
A functioning road can change everyday life. It can reduce transportation costs for traders, improve access to markets for livestock producers, make it easier for students and patients to travel, and allow emergency and security services to reach remote areas more efficiently.
Road development can also strengthen Northern Kenya’s role in regional trade, particularly because of its geographical position between Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia.
If these investments translate into completed infrastructure and economic activity, they could become one of the most tangible ways in which voters assess the government’s record.
Ahmed Khalif Stadium and recognition
Development is not always measured in kilometres of road or government offices. Sometimes it is also about symbols.
During the 2026 Madaraka Day celebrations in Wajir, President Ruto announced that the newly constructed Wajir stadium would be named the Ahmed Khalif Stadium in honour of the late Ahmed Khalif Mohamed, a former Labour minister and Wajir West MP who died in a plane crash in 2003.
The decision carries particular significance because Ahmed Khalif was a prominent Somali Kenyan who reached senior national political office.
Naming a major public facility after a respected Somali leader provides a symbolic connection between local history and the national story. It sends the message that Somali figures are not merely regional actors but part of Kenya’s broader political history.
The stadium itself also represents an investment in public life. Beyond sports, such facilities provide spaces where young people can develop talent, communities can gather and national events can be hosted.
The decision to hold Madaraka Day celebrations in Wajir was similarly significant. For a region that has often felt physically and politically distant from Nairobi, becoming the centre of a major national celebration placed Northern Kenya firmly in the national spotlight.
Representation at the highest levels
Another factor influencing political perceptions is representation.
For Kenyan Cushitic, representation is about more than the number of elected leaders. It is also about whether members of the community are trusted with positions where major national decisions are made.
The Ruto administration has appointed Somali Kenyans to significant government positions, including senior Cabinet and administrative roles. Such appointments have helped reinforce the perception among some members of the community that the government is willing to entrust Cushitic Kenyans with greater responsibility within the state.
Perhaps the most notable example is the appointment of Adan Abdulla Mohamed as Commissioner General of the Kenya Revenue Authority this year.
KRA is one of the country’s most important public institutions. It is responsible for collecting the revenue that finances government operations and public services. Leading such an institution is therefore a position of considerable national importance.
For many Kenyan Cushitic, seeing a Somali Kenyan occupy the position is a powerful symbol of progress in national representation.
It is also important to distinguish between symbolism and political outcomes. One appointment cannot resolve decades of concerns about representation. Nor does the presence of Somali leaders in government automatically mean that every member of the community supports the administration.
But representation can influence how a community perceives its place within the state. When people see individuals from their community occupying influential national positions, it can challenge the perception that certain offices are beyond their reach.
Security and the changing reality on the ground
Security remains one of the most important issues for Northern Kenya.
Mandera, Garissa and Wajir have experienced the consequences of terrorism and cross-border insecurity for years. Attacks have affected schools, businesses, transport, government operations and ordinary families.
A reduction in terrorist incidents can therefore have a direct political impact.
National security data has indicated a decline in terror-related incidents in recent years, although Northern Kenya continues to face serious threats, particularly along the Kenya-Somalia border. It would therefore be premature to suggest that the security problem has been solved.
Nevertheless, security improvements can change how people experience government.
A trader who can travel between towns with greater confidence, a parent who feels more comfortable sending children to school and a business owner who can operate without frequent disruption may view security policy differently from someone assessing the government solely through national political debate.
Security and development are also closely connected. Roads make it easier for security agencies to reach remote areas, while better government services can reduce the isolation that has historically made some communities vulnerable.
The challenge for the government is to sustain those gains rather than allowing temporary improvements to become political talking points without long-term results.
A new political relationship?
The emerging relationship between Ruto and Kenyan Cushitic may ultimately represent an attempt to establish a different political bargain with Northern Kenya.
For much of the country’s history, the state’s relationship with the region was frequently dominated by security concerns. Government presence was often experienced through policing, surveillance and border controls rather than through infrastructure, accessible public services and economic investment.
The Ruto administration is attempting to project a different image: a government that combines security with development, citizenship reforms, public investment and political representation.
Whether that approach will translate into decisive electoral support in 2027, time will tell.
What is clear, however, is that the politics of Northern Kenya is increasingly being discussed in terms beyond traditional promises of development. Questions of dignity, belonging and representation have become central to the political conversation.
For many Kenyan Cushitic, the most important question may ultimately be whether the government treats them not as a peripheral community requiring special scrutiny, but as equal citizens whose region and contributions are an integral part of Kenya.
The removal of additional vetting requirements, improved access to passport services, investment in the road network, the development and naming of the Ahmed Khalif Stadium, the hosting of national celebrations in Wajir, greater Cushitic representation in senior government and the appointment of Adan Mohamed to lead KRA have all contributed to that perception among sections of the community.
Horn of Africa and Red Sea geopolitical expert
