President William Ruto has hailed the ongoing construction of the 750-kilometre Isiolo–Wajir–Mandera Road as a transformative milestone for Northern Kenya, describing it as a long-overdue game-changer that will integrate the region fully into the national economy. The KSh100 billion project, currently at 40 per cent completion, is set to become the single longest road project undertaken in Kenya since Independence. It is a flagship infrastructure investment aimed at unlocking the vast economic and social potential of the Northern Frontier.
Speaking on Wednesday during an inspection tour of the Kula Mawe–Modogashe section alongside Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, President Ruto expressed satisfaction with the pace and quality of construction works. He noted that the progress achieved so far has silenced critics who had dismissed the project as unrealistic. “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,” he said.
Also known as the Horn of Africa Gateway Development Project, the highway will serve as a strategic artery linking Northern Kenya to the rest of the country and enhancing cross-border trade with neighboring nations. The road is expected to significantly reduce travel time, lower the cost of doing business, and improve security operations in a region that has historically suffered from marginalization and limited infrastructure investment.
President Ruto emphasized that the project is part of deliberate government interventions to correct historical injustices faced by residents of Northern Kenya. For decades, the region has lagged behind in infrastructure, education, healthcare, and economic opportunities. By investing heavily in roads and connectivity, the government seeks to ensure no part of the country is left behind. “If any part of Kenya is left behind, we are lesser, we are poorer,” the President remarked.
The Head of State underscored that national prosperity depends on fully harnessing the potential of every region. Northern Kenya, with its vast land, livestock wealth, and renewable energy prospects, holds immense promise. Improved connectivity will facilitate trade in livestock and agricultural produce, attract investors, and open up new markets. It will also strengthen Kenya’s position as a regional logistics and trade hub in the Horn of Africa.
To complement the road infrastructure, the government plans to construct 10 dams in Northern Kenya through the proposed National Infrastructure Fund. These dams will provide clean drinking water, generate hydroelectric power, and support irrigation for millions of acres of land. President Ruto noted that expanding irrigation is central to achieving national food security, particularly in arid and semi-arid areas that have long relied on rain-fed agriculture.
The President also highlighted the progress of the 420-kilometre Isiolo–Garissa–Lamu road, being built at a cost of KSh27 billion, saying it is on course. Together, the two corridors form part of the 6,000 kilometres of roads currently under construction nationwide. He revealed that contractors previously demobilised due to debt and pending bills in 2021 and 2022 have since been re-mobilised, with the government targeting completion of stalled projects by next year. In the next phase, 28,000 kilometres of roads have been earmarked for tarmacking, including 1,000 kilometres in Northern Kenya.
Beyond roads, President Ruto’s tour of Garissa County underscored a broader development agenda. He laid the foundation stone for a KSh279 million modern tuition block at Garissa University and announced a KSh750 million investment in hostels to accommodate more than 1,700 students. He also inspected the Garissa Township Affordable Housing Project and the upgrading of the Garissa Airstrip, which is ahead of schedule and expected to boost passenger traffic by over 200,000 annually. “We are going to discharge every commitment we made, and keep every promise to the people of Kenya,” President Ruto affirmed, reiterating his administration’s pledge to deliver inclusive development across the country.
