Ali Sheikh
Masalani.
President William Ruto on Saturday inaugurated the newly refurbished Yussuf Haji Girls Secondary School in Masalani, Ijara Sub-County, marking a significant boost to girls’ education in Kenya’s North Eastern region.
The secondary school, renamed in honour of the late Senator Mohamed Yussuf Haji for his enduring contributions to public service and education, now features upgraded infrastructure including a modern dining hall and three twin science laboratories designed to enhance learning outcomes and strengthen STEM instruction for girls in the region.
In a moment that drew loud cheers, President Ruto handed over a brand-new school bus to the institution. Addressing the jubilant students, he remarked, “Sasa warembo mko na bus,” encouraging them to work hard now that they have reliable transport. The new bus is expected to significantly improve mobility and safety for boarding students in this remote part of the county.
The Head of State also presided over the groundbreaking for Phase II of the school’s development, which will deliver additional classrooms and essential facilities to support rising enrolment. He commended the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF) for enabling such transformative projects and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to expanding equitable access to quality education nationwide.
Earlier in the day, Ruto launched the 376-unit Masalani Affordable Housing Project in Ijara Constituency, laying the foundation stone to kick off construction of the initiative aimed at providing decent, low-cost homes for residents in the arid region. The project, part of the national Affordable Housing Programme, is expected to create jobs, stimulate the local economy, and address housing shortages in marginalized communities.
Later in the day, President Ruto joined family, dignitaries, and community leaders at the Nikkah ceremony of Mohammed Noordin Mohamed Haji, son of National Intelligence Service Director-General Noordin Haji, held in Masalani town.
The elegant, all-white Islamic wedding drew several high-profile attendees including National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, Cabinet Secretaries Aden Duale, Kipchumba Murkomen, ODM leader Dr. Oburu Odinga, a host of governors and Jubaland President Ahmed Mohamed Islam (Ahmed Madobe), who travelled from Somalia to grace the occasion.