The House of Representatives has defended President William Ruto’s move to restart several road construction projects, insisting that the move was in line with his commitment to complete stalled projects.
State House Spokesperson, Hussein Mohammed, on Saturday said President Ruto’s visits to different regions were part of his duties as Head of State and would also include reviewing the progress of taxpayer funded projects, launching new ones and even resuming stalled ones.
“It is a mark of responsibility for the President to ensure that all viable projects are completed, including those that were stalled before the election. This commitment is part of the commitment made by President William Ruto in the Kenya Kwanzaa Declaration that sparked the election,” the House of Representatives spokesman said on X.
He said President Ruto would be making similar visits across the country in the coming days.
“During his development tours across the country, the President will continue to implement his bottom-up economic transformation agenda, including launching new projects, inspecting ongoing projects and, where necessary, reviving and completing projects that were stalled before the presidential elections, all for the benefit of the people,” he added.
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The clarification came following an outcry from some Kenyans on social media who criticised the government for repeatedly initiating road construction projects.
Over the past week, social media users have been posting footage of road construction projects that had been started but now lie abandoned and in disrepair.
During his recent visit to Kisii region, President Ruto commissioned several projects including the construction of a cancer hospital in Kisii town which was already initiated by former President Kenyatta in 2019.
President William Ruto at the ground breaking ceremony for the construction of the Kisii County Cancer Treatment Centre in Nyaribali Chache Constituency, Kisii County.
Photo credit: PCS
In neighbouring Nyamira County, President Ruto inaugurated the upgrading and maintenance of asphalt standards on Eronge Road (D209), a key piece of infrastructure in Bolabu Constituency.
However, the same road was inaugurated during the Kenyatta administration by the then Roads Minister James Macharia and the then Home Affairs Minister Fred Matiang’i.
Prior to his visit to Kisii region, Dr Ruto had visited the Central Kenya region.
During his tour of the Central Kenya region, President Ruto also inaugurated the Iliari-Kanyuambola Irrigation Project, which is expected to cost Sh280 million. The same project was also inaugurated in March 2021 by a former Minister of Water Resources at a cost of Sh220 million.
He also inaugurated the Sh60 million Othaya Water Supply and Sewerage Treatment Plant in August last year. The same project was launched by former President Uhuru Kenyatta in 2016.
Other projects launched by the Head of State include the Githurai Water Supply Project worth Sh15 million which was already commenced in May 2020 and the construction of Githurai Modern Market which was already commenced in 2019.
President Ruto also launched the construction of the Ichamala-Tangati-Rutung road, worth a total of Sh4.5 billion, which has so far been commenced in 2017, 2019, 2021 and 2023.
