Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has confirmed that 11 contractors are currently working on the construction of the Isiolo-Mandera road.
The project, which had sparked criticism earlier, was announced by President William Ruto during his tour of the North Eastern region earlier this month.
Speaking during a meeting with Meru leaders in Nairobi on Tuesday, February 18, Kindiki reassured that progress is being made, with some sections of the road already tarmacked. He emphasized that the project is expected to be completed within the next two and a half years.
Addressing critics, Kindiki insisted that the Isiolo-Mandera road will be one of the government’s key achievements as the country heads toward the 2027 general elections.
He stressed that the road will be crucial in boosting economic growth in the region. “At the moment, there are 11 contractors on site, each handling a stretch of over 100 miles.
Some parts of the road are already between 40% and 50% tarmacked,” he stated.
He also dismissed those mocking the project, arguing that many critics have little knowledge of the region. “Some of the people making fun of this project don’t even know where these places are.
But in 2027, when we give our account of what we have done, we will drive along that road from Mandera to Isiolo. That is how we open up this part of the country,” he added.
Furthermore, Kindiki criticized Cabinet Secretaries and Principal Secretaries for inviting President Ruto to launch projects that have not been properly planned or funded.
He made it clear that the president should only be invited to launch or inspect a project if it is either fully completed or fully funded to ensure successful implementation.
“It is important to give the president a proper briefing before he inspects or launches a project. This prevents situations where he might be misled or put in an embarrassing position,” Kindiki stated.
He further explained that some government officials have created unnecessary problems by inviting the president to launch projects that lack the necessary funding.
“Ministers and PSs sometimes embarrass the president by calling him to events where they know very well that the project isn’t fully funded.
We need to protect the president from being used to make empty promises,” he said.
To prevent such issues, Kindiki assured that he would personally inspect key projects before inviting the president. “I should be the one to inspect the project first. If there are any issues, the blame should be on me, not the president.
By the time he comes, we should be confident that the project is either fully completed or has guaranteed funding from start to finish,” he explained.
His remarks come just a month after President Ruto warned contractors who are delaying important government projects. “You have already been paid in full.
There is no excuse for this project not to be progressing,” Ruto said while in Kisii.
“This is unacceptable. You are getting a final warning. If you don’t speed up the work, we will cancel your contract and bring in another contractor to finish the project. It’s that simple. No negotiations,” he added.
Last year, former Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen revealed that road construction projects across the country had stalled over the past nine financial years due to insufficient funding.
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