Kitui

Government Announces Tarmacking of Road Leading to Kalonzo’s Home After Public Spat with Ruto

KITUI COUNTY — The national government has announced plans to upgrade the Kyuso-Tseikuru Road in Kitui County, a route that leads to Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka’s ancestral home, weeks after a public exchange between the former Vice President and President William Ruto over the road’s condition.

The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) published a tender notice on Tuesday, December 23, inviting contractors to bid for the strengthening and upgrading of the road to bitumen standards.

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Project Details

According to the tender documentation, the project will transform the existing road into a durable bitumen surface, marking a significant infrastructure investment in the region. KeNHA has scheduled a mandatory pre-tender site visit at Kandwia shopping centre on January 15, 2025, at 10 a.m.

“The Authority hereby invites bids from eligible contractors for the following tenders to be funded through the Development Votes. There shall be a mandatory pre-tender site visit as specified,” KeNHA stated in the notice.

The Authority directed interested contractors to obtain complete tender documents from the KeNHA website at kenha.co.ke or through the Public Procurement Information Portal (PPIP).

Impact on Local Communities

The road upgrade represents a significant development for Kitui residents who have experienced difficulties accessing essential government services, including healthcare facilities, educational institutions, and commercial markets. The current state of the road has long been a source of frustration for communities along the route.

While government officials have positioned the project within the broader national infrastructure development agenda, the timing has sparked discussion among observers, coming shortly after public remarks between President Ruto and Kalonzo regarding the road’s condition.

Recent Political Context

The tender announcement follows a week of verbal exchanges between the two political figures. On December 15, President Ruto questioned why the road remained unpaved despite Kalonzo’s extensive political career, including his tenure as Vice President under former President Mwai Kibaki.

“I heard one of them say I’ve been laying roads, he said while in government. He even corrected me, saying he served for 40 years, not 50. My question is, how many years does he need to do a single project? Clearly, these issues are beyond his understanding,” President Ruto stated during a public address.

He added, “How do you campaign for development when the road to your own home is still dusty?”

Kalonzo’s Response

The Wiper leader responded to the President’s remarks by defending his record in public service. Kalonzo maintained that during his decades in government, he contributed to significant infrastructure projects in Kitui County and the wider Eastern region.

The former Vice President suggested that the President’s focus on him personally detracted from the administration’s responsibility to deliver infrastructure development across the country.

Road Ahead

The tender process marks the first formal step toward actualizing the road upgrade. Once contractors submit their bids and the procurement process is completed, construction work is expected to commence, bringing relief to residents who have navigated the dusty and muddy conditions for years.

Local leaders and residents have welcomed the announcement, viewing it as a long-overdue investment in regional connectivity that will enhance economic activity and improve quality of life for communities along the corridor.

The project timeline and total cost will become clearer once KeNHA completes the bidding process and awards the contract to a successful contractor.