The long-overdue construction of the Rironi-Mau Summit Road is finally set to begin in August, President William Ruto has announced.
He said that the project’s design and technical groundwork are almost complete, with the groundbreaking expected in the next two months. According to him, the government has agreed with contractors to fast-track the work and ensure the road is either completed or largely done by 2027.
Ruto made the announcement on Wednesday while meeting leaders from Nakuru County at State House, Nairobi. The delegation included Nakuru Governor Susan Kihika, Trade and Investments Cabinet Secretary Lee Kinyanjui, Senator Tabitha Karanja, MPs, and MCAs.
The President explained that the upgraded highway will feature four lanes from Rironi to Naivasha and six lanes from Naivasha to Nakuru City to handle the growing traffic demand along that corridor. He added that the Maai Mahiu-Naivasha section will also be improved.
On the Itare Dam project, Ruto said the government had reached a deal with the Italian government to resume construction by the end of the year. The dam, located in Kuresoi North, is expected to ease the persistent water shortages in Nakuru City once completed.
The President also announced a KSh2.5 billion allocation to complete stalled road projects in Nakuru County. Another KSh2.5 billion has been set aside under the Last Mile Electricity Connectivity Programme to link 21,000 households to the national grid by December.
He said the government is working to resolve contractual issues delaying the construction of Lanet Airport, and that military assistance will be used to complete the ongoing works at Afraha Stadium and build a new stadium in Olenguruone.
On economic development, Ruto said plans for the Naivasha Special Economic Zone are progressing well, with the government having acquired 5,000 acres for infrastructure development.
He also addressed education funding, saying counties can now issue bursaries after reaching an agreement with the Office of the Controller of Budget.
In healthcare, Ruto revealed that the Social Health Authority has supported services for 4.5 million Kenyans over the past eight months, at a cost of KSh41 billion. He called on Nakuru leaders to encourage more residents to register, noting that only 35 percent of the county’s population is currently signed up.
He urged leaders to also inform young people about growing job opportunities abroad, saying over 10,000 Kenyans are leaving each month to work in other countries. In the past two years, 400,000 young Kenyans have found employment overseas.
On security, the President directed police in Nakuru to deal firmly with criminals and ensure the safety of residents, warning that both civilian and uniformed offenders must be held accountable.
