PHOTOS: President Ruto Attends Wedding of NIS Director-General Noordin Haji’s Son in Garissa

Masalani, Garissa County – 29 November 2025

President William Ruto on Saturday travelled to Masalani in Ijara Constituency, Garissa County, where he served as the chief guest at the wedding of Mohammed Noordin Mohamed Y. Haji, the eldest son of National Intelligence Service (NIS) Director-General Noordin Haji.

The President, who arrived by helicopter shortly after midday, was received by the NIS boss and a host of local leaders.

He was dressed in his trademark Kaunda suit and kofia, blending with the largely Somali guest list dressed in traditional macawiis and dira.

The nikah ceremony was conducted under a large tent decorated in Somali cultural colours, with hundreds of guests in attendance.

Among the prominent figures present was Dr Oburu Odinga, the elder brother of ODM leader Raila Odinga.

Speaking briefly at the reception, President Ruto congratulated the couple and the Haji family, describing the occasion as “a celebration of love and Kenyan unity.”

He used the platform to reiterate his administration’s commitment to the development of northern Kenya.

Later, the President officially opened Yusuf Haji Secondary School in Masalani, named after the late Garissa Senator and Defence Cabinet Secretary who was Noordin Haji’s father.

While at the school, Ruto announced an additional Sh12 billion allocation to the education sector in the current financial year, bringing the total budget to Sh702 billion.

The high-profile attendance comes at a time when the NIS Director-General has faced sustained criticism over alleged abductions and the agency’s handling of dissent.

In January 2025, Public Service Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi publicly accused the NIS of being behind the brief disappearance of his son Lesley Muturi, an incident that reportedly required the President’s direct intervention for the young man’s release.

Opposition figures, including former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, have repeatedly called for Noordin Haji’s removal, citing what they term “gross abuse of office.”

Political analysts interpret the President’s presence at the wedding as a public show of confidence in the embattled intelligence chief.

Local leaders in Garissa welcomed the visit, with several describing it as a rare gesture of inclusion for a region that often feels marginalized.