President William Ruto has launched the upgrading of the Rabuor-Chiga road to bitumen standards Kisumu county, as the government steps up investment in roads across the region.
Ruto said Sh23 billion had been allocated to road projects in Kisumu County, with nine new roads already under construction.
The President launched the 12-kilometre Rabuor-Chiga road on Monday and flagged off machinery for the works, which are expected to be completed within 18 months.
He said the Kibos-Nyamongo road was also among roads that would be upgraded to bitumen standards.
Ruto said the projects were part of the government's wider programme to improve road connectivity and revive stalled infrastructure projects across the country.
He said the government had paid close to Sh250 billion to contractors whose projects had stalled because of delayed payments, allowing them to resume construction.
“Through dedication and planning, we have paid close to Sh250 billion so that contractors who were working on the roads that were stalled can go back to continue construction of roads in our country,” Ruto said.
The President said the investment in roads would support economic activity by improving movement of people and goods while opening up areas that had remained poorly connected.
The Rabuor-Chiga road is expected to ease transport between the areas and improve access to markets and essential services.
Ruto said the development projects in Nyanza demonstrated his administration's commitment to ensuring that all parts of the country benefit from public investment.
He said the broad-based government was intended to bring communities and counties together and move the country away from politics based on tribalism and discrimination.
The President said Kenyans would have an opportunity in the 2027 General Election to reject politics of tribalism, hatred and discrimination.
He said his administration would continue pursuing an agenda that brings together people from different communities and counties.
ODM national chairperson Gladys Wanga said residents of Nyanza had witnessed increased development projects under Ruto's administration, particularly in the road sector.
“As ODM and people from this region, we have had relationships with other presidents, but none has done for us what President William Ruto has done for us,” Wanga said.
She said numerous roads were being tarmacked across the region after years of waiting.
Wanga also dismissed calls for ODM members to abandon the broad-based arrangement, saying the party remained united and was preparing for the next political phase together.
“We are all in this for two terms,” she said
Kisumu East MP Shakeel Shabir welcomed the project, saying residents had waited for the road for more than two decades.
“We have been following this road for 22 years, and now it is finally here with us,” Shabir said.
He said residents were happy that the long-awaited project had finally started and thanked the President for initiating the construction.
Local leaders also called for improvement of health facilities in the area, citing accidents along the road and the need to upgrade a nearby hospital to a Level Four facility.
“Katia broad-based kila sehemu ya Kenya,” Ruto said, calling for the country to work together as one.
The President said Kenyans would have an opportunity in the 2027 General Election to reject politics of tribalism, hatred and discrimination.
He said his administration would continue pursuing an agenda that brings together people from different communities and counties.
Ruto's message comes as his administration continues to deepen its political engagement with the opposition-linked ODM leadership, particularly in Nyanza, where he has been undertaking a four-day tour of the region.
