Controversy as Ruto recommissions stalled road, fires contractor
Nyanza
By
Stanley Ongwae
| Apr 16, 2026
President William Ruto has come under scrutiny after relaunching a stalled road project he had initially commissioned in 2018 while serving as Deputy President.
During his tour of the Gusii region, where he has spent the last four days, Ruto launched the same road—this time from the opposite end—renaming it the Keumbu–Gachuba–Kiendege–Kemera Road, eight years later.
The project, which had stalled after the contractor completed less than two kilometres from Kemera Town, was originally launched by then President Uhuru Kenyatta before Ruto commissioned it a year later.
However, it is not the relaunch itself that has sparked controversy, but the President’s directive to cancel the existing contractor’s tender and award the project to a new contractor.
READ MORE
Kenyans turn to advance loans as salary delays bite
Second classroom for NYOTA project beneficiaries rolled out
Coffee market nets Sh24 billion in six months
Reliance on rain-fed agriculture is increasingly untenable.
Oil prices bounce back on Iran war escalation
Kepsa flags double-digit inflation risk from Middle East conflict
Inside KPA's push for Mombasa, Lamu as key cruise tourism hubs
207 youth get training on e-waste handling
Listed firms' CEOs now face fines, jail time for sustainability lies
Pressure mounts on World Bank over factory farming funds in Africa
While recommissioning the road, Ruto ordered that the contractor be removed from the site, accusing him of engaging in politics—though he did not provide further details.
The President summoned an engineer from the Kenya Rural Roads Authority and issued firm instructions, stating that the contractor should no longer continue with the project and that a new contractor be sourced to complete the work.
“Hii barabara imekwama tangu 2018. Huyo contractor mwambie atoke kwa barabara yangu aende achome makaa…atoke kwa hiyo baraba. Tafuta contractor mwingine ajenge hiyo barabara. Huyo contractor wacha aende apige siasa (This road has stalled since 2018. Instruct the contractor to stay away from the work and instead go burn charcoal somewhere. Find a new contractor and leave this one to go to politics), the President ordered.
His sentiments were echoed by Solicitor General Shadrack Mose, who is also the former Kitutu Masaba MP, who initiated the project.
“We are happy that you have chased this contractor from the site and let him go away so that this road can be finished as earlier projected,” Mose said.
However, Kitutu Masaba MP Clive Gisairo has pushed back, accusing the President of misleading residents over the stalled project.
According to Gisairo, the road was expected to be completed years ago, but progress stalled due to lack of funding under the current administration.
“When the President says the contractor has failed to complete the road project, how does he expect to finish it when he has not been paid? He did some work on the ground that is visible. But after claiming for payment, he has never been listened to. How then could he expect the road to be completed?” Gisaoro posed.
The MP said in his quest as an MP to resolve the stalled progress, he was informed that the contractor was not only suffering non-payment of his work in Kitutu Masaba alone, but also in Meru County.
The president wound up his tour of Gusii in South Mugirango where he launched various roads and electricity connectivity works.