What was meant to be a high-profile inspection of regional development in Garissa has taken an unexpected turn this morning.
While President William Ruto is on the ground reviewing progress at the Garissa Airstrip, three key members of his Cabinet have been notably absent, not by choice, but due to a mechanical scare that kept their transport firmly on the tarmac.
The incident has involved Cabinet Secretaries Wycliffe Oparanya, Alfred Mutua and Salim Mvurya.
The trio was scheduled to join the President for a series of events, but their flight allegedly suffered a mechanical glitch shortly before take-off.
While technical hitches are a pilot’s nightmare, in this case, the caution exercised by the flight crew likely averted a much more serious situation.
The absence of the three CSs became glaringly obvious during the NYOTA Capital Disbursement ceremony held at Garissa High School.
Taking to the podium to explain the empty chairs, Health CS Aden Duale has been forced to offer a formal apology to the President.
Duale has briefed the attendees on the mechanical failure, emphasizing that safety had to come first, even at the expense of the day’s itinerary.
Despite the logistical hiccup, the President’s agenda has remained on track.
The President has done an inspection of the Garissa Airstrip, a project that is surprisingly ahead of schedule and perhaps even more impressively, within budget.
The upgrade is viewed as a transformative investment, designed to turn the airstrip into a regional hub that will unlock fresh economic potential for North Eastern Kenya.
It is a day defined by a strange contrast, while the President has celebrated the take-off of a major infrastructure project, three of his senior-most officials are struggling to get off the ground for official duties on the ground.