Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo has defended President William Ruto’s road financing model, accusing critics of opposing infrastructure projects aimed at extending development beyond major urban centres.
Omollo said the use of the Road Maintenance Levy Fund (RMLF) to finance road construction had become contentious, despite the government’s push to expand the country’s road network.
Speaking in Kakamega, the PS defended the securitisation model adopted by the administration to mobilise funds for infrastructure, arguing that it would enable road projects to be undertaken in different parts of the country.
He questioned why the use of the levy had become controversial under Ruto, noting that the fund existed before the president took office.
“Some leaders are now questioning whether the RMLF is unconstitutional or illegal, yet we had this fund even before President Ruto came into office,” he said.
Omollo cited several planned and ongoing road projects that he said demonstrated the government’s commitment to improving connectivity across the country.
These include the planned road linking Rironi to Mau Summit, Eldoret and Malaba, as well as the proposed route connecting Mau Summit to Kericho.
He also cited the road from Lamu towards Isiolo, saying a project initially expected to be built using gravel was now being upgraded to bitumen standards under the current administration.
The PS questioned why major infrastructure projects in Nairobi, including Thika Road and the Nairobi Expressway, had not attracted similar criticism from leaders now challenging the government’s road financing arrangements.
“Why was there no problem when Thika Road was being constructed or when the Expressway was being built? But when we use the RMLF to construct roads in other parts of the country, suddenly there is a problem,” he said.
Omollo argued that infrastructure development should be guided by fairness and equitable distribution of public resources rather than political considerations.
He said the government was working to extend investment in roads, housing and markets to regions outside Nairobi, insisting that communities across the country deserved to benefit from public projects.
“If roads are being built in Nairobi, they should also be built here in Kakamega. If houses are being constructed in Kisumu, they should also be constructed in Eldoret. The same should apply to markets across the country,” he said.
The PS maintained that support for Ruto’s administration was driven by its development agenda, rather than personal relationships with the President.
He added that equitable investment across regions was essential to national unity, saying no part of the country should be left out of government development programmes.
