President Kithure Kindiki has confirmed that 11 contractors are actively working on the construction of the Isiolo-Mandera road.
The follows alot of criticism following President William Ruto’s announcement during his North Eastern tour earlier this month.
Speaking during a consultative meeting with Meru leaders on Tuesday, February 18, in Nairobi, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki confirmed sections of the Isiolo-Mandera road, which were expected to be completed within the next two and a half years, have already been tarmacked.
Responding to critics, Kindiki emphasized that the project will be one of the key government achievements highlighted in the lead-up to the 2027 general elections.
“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. 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,” he added.
Kindiki went on to fault Cabinet Secretaries and Principal Secretaries for inviting President William Ruto to launch projects without certainty of completion.
He emphasized that the president should only be invited to launch a project that is either completed or fully funded to guarantee 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. Ministers and PSs sometimes embarrass the president by inviting him to events knowing well that the project isn’t fully funded. I should inspect something, and if it gets stuck, the embarrassment comes to me, not the president. By the time he arrives, we are sure it’s either a completed project or fully funded with an end-to-end solution,” he added