Duale makes personal appeal to Ruto to reopen Somalia border
Duale makes personal appeal to Ruto to reopen Somalia border
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has appealed to President William Ruto to reopen the Kenya-Somalia border and fast-track the tarmacking of the Garissa-Liboi road, saying the two projects hold the key to unlocking North Eastern Kenya’s economic potential.
Speaking in Maalim Sub-County during the launch of a Mini-Grid project, Duale used the occasion to make what he described as a special request on behalf of residents of the region.
The CS, who accompanied President Ruto on an official development tour, praised the Head of State for ongoing investments in infrastructure, energy, education and security, saying the government had demonstrated commitment to transforming the historically marginalised region.
“Your Excellency, the people of Northeastern are grateful for the many projects your government has delivered since you took office. You have proven to be the region’s savior and a leader who keeps his promises.
Today, I humbly request that you consider reopening the Kenya-Somalia border and prioritizing the tarmacking of the Garissa-Liboi road,” Duale said.
According to Duale, reopening the border would revive local economies in Garissa and the wider North Eastern region by restoring livelihoods, boosting trade and creating employment opportunities for thousands of people who depend on cross-border commerce.
The Kenya-Somalia border was closed at the height of insecurity linked to the Al-Shabaab militant group following Kenya’s military intervention in Somalia. While the move was intended to curb the movement of militants and illicit goods, it also disrupted trade and social ties between communities living on both sides of the border.
Efforts to reopen the border in 2023 were shelved following a resurgence of terrorist attacks, highlighting the security challenges that continue to face the region.
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For years, leaders, traders and residents in North Eastern Kenya have pushed for the reopening of the frontier, arguing that restoring formal trade routes would unlock economic opportunities and improve living standards.
Duale said reopening the border would not only boost trade between Kenya and Somalia but also strengthen regional integration and improve government oversight of cross-border activities through regulated entry and exit points.
The CS also called for the urgent upgrading of the 160-kilometre Garissa-Liboi road, a key transport corridor linking Kenya and Somalia.
The road serves as a strategic route for trade, security operations and humanitarian activities but has long been associated with insecurity, with Al-Shabaab militants and their sympathisers frequently exploiting its poor condition to launch attacks and plant improvised explosive devices.
The insecurity has at times forced police officers and officials from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to avoid the route and instead use the longer Modogashe-Garissa road, which is fully tarmacked and considered safer.
Duale said upgrading the road would not only improve transport and trade but also enhance security by enabling faster movement of security personnel and reducing opportunities for ambushes.
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