President Ruto’s Ambitious Road Development Campaign Throughout Rift Valley
President William Ruto has stepped up road infrastructure development in the Rift Valley, targeting urban and rural connectivity to support economic transformation.
Major upgrades, launches, and new constructions have been rolled out throughout Nakuru, Narok, Bomet, Kajiado, Kericho, and Laikipia since late 2024 and through 2025, marking one of the most extensive regional road investment phases in recent times.
In Nakuru County, the government is undertaking various urban and rural access improvements worth billions. Sections of Gilgil–Nakuru Road upgrade at a cost of KSh 4.89 billion focus on pavement rehabilitation and drainage in improving connectivity between the urban and rural areas. Launched on 29th October, 2025, the project is ongoing and set to cut travel time around Gilgil and its hinterlands.
The Kasarani–Kongoni–Olkaria–Ndabibi Road, which was launched in early November 2025, aims at improving access to agricultural zones, geothermal sites, and tourism hubs around Lake Naivasha. In Nakuru town, KURA projects include the Nakuru Chief’s Office–Ndaragu River Road and Mother Kelvin Road, each 0.5 km long, improving urban mobility under a KSh 2.19 billion allocation.
It is also constructing the Ngata–Roret–Njoro Road (15 km) to ensure better market access for farmers.
Nakuru also benefits from an expanded KeNHA strategic plan worth KSh 394 billion between 2023 and 2027, with KSh 192.5 billion allocated for major upgrades, including the Rironi–Mau Summit corridor. This includes a national diversion of KSh 11.47 billion in 2025 for rural access roads, with Nakuru being earmarked as one of the priority gateway counties.
Major rural links being upgraded in Narok County include the Shartuka–Njipiship–Olchobosei–Abosi–Gorgor Road (19 km), valued at about KSh 2 billion, Sogoo–Kimogoro–Melelo–Ololung’a Road (28 km), Ngoswani–Morijo Road (65 km, KSh 4.9 billion), and Sogoo–Ololulunga Road (28 km).
Furthermore, the Silibwet–Merigi–Kaparuso road network, spanning 75 km and costing KSh 2.9 billion, is being launched in Bomet East. Kyogong–Kapkesosio–Sigor–Longisa upgrades at 60 km, with a cost of KSh 2.1 billion, are strengthening urban and inter-market movement.
Other ongoing major connectivity projects in Kajiado County include the Ongata Rongai–Gataka–Embulbul–Karen-Co-op–Matasia–Nkoroi–Nazarene–Rimpa–Lewisa–Kahara Roads, 65 km valued at KSh 3.9 billion before restart, and the strategic Illasit–Rombo–Taveta Link Road, a 65 km corridor that is linking Kajiado and Taita Taveta at a cost of KSh 9.4 billion.
Additionally, the Kericho County project entails the Rironi–Mau Summit Road, which is a critical Rift Valley transport spine with 175 km of highway upgrading at a cost of Ksh 170 billion.
The Sondu–Sosiot–Kapsoit network stands at 42 km and costs KSh 905 million, whereas a similar but shorter stretch of 13 km costs KSh 580.6 million. Other upgrades include the Kapsuser–Kipsolu and Kapsuser–Sosiot Roads, which are 18 km and cost KSh 905 million.
In Laikipia County, three major projects are being carried out: Ngobit–Withare–Lamuria Road (31 km, KSh 1.2 billion), Nanyuki–Rumuruti Road (70 km, KSh 3.3 billion), and Rumuruti–Naibor Road (45 km, KSh 3.4 billion).
Taken together, these projects mirror the ambition of President Ruto to speed up stalled works, extend access, and create regional connectivity with heavy public investment and quicker execution mechanisms
