Deputy President Kithure Kindiki said that 11 contractors are currently working on the Isiolo-Mandera road. The initiative has already received criticism following President William Ruto’s declaration during his North Eastern tour earlier this month.
Kindiki stated that some sections of the Isiolo-Mandera road, which is scheduled to be completed in the next two and a half years, have already been tarmacked.
On Tuesday, February 18, the DP spoke at a consultative meeting with Meru leaders in Nairobi. In response to critiques, Kindiki stated that the project will be one of the primary government accomplishments highlighted in the run-up to the 2027 general election.
He also stated that the road would play an important part in realizing the region’s economic potential. “There are 11 contractors on the ground as we speak, each with a stretch of over 100 miles, and some sections are already 40-50% tarmacked,” said Kindiki.
“People who are making fun of these projects don’t even know where these areas are” he added. “But when 2027 comes, and we go to account, we’ll drive along that road from Mandera to Isiolo—that’s how you open up that part of the country.”
Furthermore, Kindiki criticised Cabinet Secretaries and Principal Secretaries for inviting President William Ruto to launch projects with no guarantee of completion.
He highlighted that the president should only be asked to launch a project that has been completed or is fully funded to ensure its completion.
“Properly briefing the president on a project he’s going to inspect or launch is critical in shielding him from embarrassment and criticism,” Kindiki said.
“We want to spare the president from routine announcements or projects where he hasn’t been properly briefed on their funding and timelines.”He continued, “Ministers and PSs sometimes embarrass the president by inviting him to events knowing well that the project isn’t fully funded.”
Kindiki promised to personally inspect various projects before inviting the president to avoid any unfavorable news.
“I should inspect something, and if it gets stuck, the embarrassment comes to me, not the president,” he explained.
“By the time he arrives, we are sure it’s either a completed project or fully funded with an end-to-end solution.”
Kindiki’s statements came a month after President Ruto issued a strong warning to contractors who are delaying major government projects.
“You have been paid all the money required. There’s no reason why this project isn’t progressing. This is unacceptable. You’ll get a final warning,” Ruto said while in Kisii.
“If you don’t pull up your socks, we’ll terminate the contract and bring in another contractor to get this cancer centre off the ground. It’s as simple as that. No quarrels,” he added.
Last year, Kipchumba Murkomen, the then-transport Cabinet Secretary, blamed insufficient finance for the country’s stalled road development during the previous nine fiscal years.
