The government has begun assessing the proposed Lake Victoria Ring Road alongside the World Bank as preparations for the major road project continue, with construction expected to begin later this year.
Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir said on Saturday, October 17, that the team inspected existing roads, reviewed proposed routes and identified challenges that need to be addressed before and during implementation.
The mission was led by Qimiao Fan, the World Bank’s Division Director for Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia and Uganda. Chirchir joined the team to assess road conditions and identify sections where transport links need improvement.
“These projects will be critical in strengthening regional connectivity, opening up rural economies, supporting agriculture and tourism, facilitating trade and improving access to essential services,” Chirchir said.
The assessment comes after Cabinet approval of the Lake Victoria Ring Road and two other major road corridors under the Roads for Rural Economic Development Programme.
The ring road was initially planned to cover nearly 500 kilometres around the Lake Victoria region. The government later expanded the project to include the 112-kilometre Kisumu-Busia Highway, bringing the planned road network to approximately 612 kilometres.
Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi announced the expansion in June 2026.
The Kisumu-Busia Highway forms part of the Northern Corridor, a major transport route linking Kenya to Uganda and other markets in the Great Lakes region.
Counties Set to Benefit From the Road
The proposed Lake Victoria Ring Road will run through Busia, Siaya, Kisumu, Homa Bay, and Migori counties.
The highway will provide access to the fishing communities living on the shores of the lake, allowing them to move their goods to markets or to other locations.
It will increase accessibility to fishing ports and tourist centers located around Lake Victoria.
For fishing and farming communities as well as traders, it will be easier to deliver products from one place to another.
On September 20, 2026, President William Ruto announced the allocation of Ksh60 billion for the construction of the road. The construction was scheduled to start in November.
However, the Ministry of Roads and Transport has yet to provide a detailed construction schedule in its latest statement.
In March, the President had also announced that construction would begin before the end of 2026.
The latest assessment is part of the preparations for the project, although the government has not provided further details on the specific construction dates.