Ruto tours Isiolo-Wajir-Mandera road, dismisses claims of stalled construction

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President William Ruto on Wednesday expressed satisfaction with the progress of the 750km Isiolo-Wajir-Mandera road, a day after former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua claimed construction had stalled.

Ruto, accompanied by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, inspected works on the Kula Mawe–Modogashe section, which he said is now 40 per cent complete.

His visit came barely 24 hours after Gachagua alleged several sections of the highway had not progressed for the past three months due to financial constraints.

“Majority of the sections have stalled for the last three months and workers have never been paid their money to continue with the construction,” Gachagua claimed on Tuesday.

But the President said the Sh100 billion project was on course and dismissed critics who had doubted its viability.

“When I announced the construction of this road in February 2025, it looked like a story; it didn’t look real. Some even said it was a lie and that it was not possible. But here we are today,” Ruto said.

Also known as the Horn of Africa Gateway Development Project, the highway is the longest road project undertaken in the country since Independence.

Ruto said the road forms part of the government’s efforts to address historical marginalisation in northern Kenya and unlock the region’s economic potential.

“If any part of Kenya is left behind, we are lesser, we are poorer. By connecting every part of the country, we are harnessing the full potential of the nation,” he said.

The President said the 420km Isiolo–Garissa–Lamu road, being constructed at a cost of Sh27 billion, is also progressing well.

He assured residents the two flagship infrastructure projects would not be delayed by political criticism, noting they are part of the 6,000km of roads currently under construction nationwide.

“We have re-mobilised contractors who had been demobilised by debt and pending bills in 2021 and 2022, and we hope to complete all stalled roads by next year,” he said.

Ruto further revealed the government has mapped out 28,000km of roads for tarmacking in the next phase, including 1,000km in northern Kenya.

In December last year, the President said two sections of the highway—the 67km Modogashe–Samatar stretch and the 75km Rhamu–Mandera section—had initially been placed under the annuity financing programme.

He said the contracts were terminated by mutual agreement, paving the way for fresh financing negotiations with the World Bank.

“The Cabinet is going to approve so that shortly we do the procurement so that by February those sections will be part of the road,” Ruto said.