Unfulfilled Ruto projects cast shadow over development in Rift Valley

The Rift Valley region is facing amounting crisis of stalled and delayed public projects, with far-reaching consequences for the economy and public trust.

Despite being President William Ruto’s political bedrock, the region has a significant backlog of stalled projects, which the president himself initiated, giving hope to the people.

Billions worth of infrastructure and building projects, including hospital blocks, roads, and dams, remain incomplete.

While the President has prioritised resuming these projects using locally raised revenue, many remain hindered by financial challenges, legal disputes, and contractor issues.

A larger part of the North Rift had gigantic hopes on Ruto’s political will to turn around the region’s fortunes.

But the region is dotted with eyesores of national government projects that were promised by the President.

Ruto has remained silent on several signature projects, raising questions on whether his administration has made a U-turn in their implementation.

Save for some ongoing roads and an affordable housing project, the North Rift is still waiting for delivery of promises that were touted to transform the region.

The Ruto administration is yet to kick off  construction of Sh63 billion Arror and Kimwarer dams, key water projects that were expected to turn Kerio Valley into an agricultural hub and create thousands of jobs.

On March 14, 2023, Ruto met his Italian counterpart Sergio Mattarella in Nairobi and discussed the resumption of the stalled projects. 

Arror and Kimwarer dams were hit by controversies in 2019, halting their implementation, and Ruto promised to revive them soon after he secures power. 

But the proposed sites of the mega dams are still farmlands. Ruto has claimed during the 2022 Presidential campaigns that the dams were derailed by Uhuru Kenyatta’s cronies to weaken his political strength in the Rift Valley.

“We have further committed, in good faith, to re-establish cooperation on  the  construction  of  Arror,  Kimwarer  and Itare dams and other water and sanitation projects, which are critical to our agenda on  food  security  and  climate action,” State House said in a statement in 2023.

Fluorspar mining in Kimwarer, Elgeyo Marakwet County, which employed more than 3,000 locals before it collapsed in 2015, was set to roar back by mid-last year after a decade hiatus.

A new investor – a United Kingdom firm, announced at the mining site in 2024 that it had pumped Sh4.8 billion into the revival of fluorspar mining in Kimwarer.

According to locals who were optimistic and hopeful of a major turnaround in the fluorspar mining, the unveiling of a new investor heralded a booming economy and jobs for unemployed youth.

But the fluorspar mining site remains a thicket with rusty mining equipment.

The new mining company, Sofax Fluorspar, had secured a 25-year lease.

 “Landowners have not been compensated since the Jomo Kenyatta administration. My father agitated for compensation in 1976, but the matter has not been concluded to date,” community elder Yusuf Keitany said.

Keiyo South MP Gideon Kimaiyo pleaded: “We were expecting that fluorspar mining would be up and running by now and youth from all corners of Elgeyo Marakwet would be working, but an electricity issue has prevented the new investor from reviving mining. We are requesting you to help us.”

In Uasin Gishu, the President launched several programmes, including Moi’s Bridge-Matunda water projects and last-mile electricity connectivity initiatives, among other projects in Soy, Kapseret, Turbo and Kesses, which remain incomplete.

Road projects, including Moi University-Nigeria and extension of Chepterit-Moi University to Kesses-Kerita-Kimwarer, are among pledges that the Ruto administration has yet to implement.

Nyaru-Fluorspar-Emsea-Biretwo-Arror-Chesongoch road, which was expected to connect Elgeyo Marakwet, West Pokot and Turkana counties by joining with Kolowa-Tot-Litre-Marich Pass road, remains a dream.

The proposed Sh28 billion new Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) is among the projects that remain pending.

Multimillion-dollar iconic stadiums, including  Kipchoge Keino Stadium in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu and another Kipchoge Keino sports facility in Kapsabet, Nandi County, remain unfinished.

Ruto visited the delayed Kipchoge Keino Stadium in Eldoret early last year and handed over the site to a Chinese contractor early.

But last week, Sports Kenya said a Sh700 million pending bill would derail the pace of implementation of Eldoret's biggest training and competition facility.

Refurbishing of Kipchoge Keino Stadium had stopped early in 2024.

Kamariny Stadium in Iten, Elgeyo Marakwet County, has been a grazing field for nearly four years.

Last year, a new contractor set up base at the stalled Kamariny Stadium before deserting the site.

Kamariny is set to host Mashujaa Day on December 12 this year, but construction has yet to commence.

The President has insisted that whenever he is in the region, his promises will be fulfilled.

In Kericho County, the construction of the much-anticipated Londiani Referral Hospital in Londiani remains elusive despite repeated assurances from President Ruto.

The project, long envisioned as a transformative healthcare milestone for the region, has been characterised by delays and unfulfilled pledges.

In a recent announcement, Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi assured residents that construction is finally set to commence, following the securing of Sh 500 million from the Chinese government during Ruto’s September visit to China.

Kipkelion East MP Joseph Cherorot has urged the government to increase funding to at least Sh1 billion to adequately meet the projected costs and healthcare demands of the growing population.

He noted that the allocation of 100 acres of land by the county government demonstrates the local community’s readiness to support the initiative.

However, the hospital is just one among several projects facing setbacks across the county.

The construction of the Kerenga Airstrip in Belgut Constituency has remained stalled since the Mashujaa Day celebrations in 2023.

Allegations of misappropriation of Sh 45.4 million during the tenure of former Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen have triggered investigations by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).

Kericho Governor Erick Mutai recently revealed that negotiations with Browns Plantation had been concluded, with the company agreeing to cede 52 acres of land to facilitate completion of the stalled airstrip.

Meanwhile, the Affordable Housing project at Majengo Tallai on the outskirts of Kericho town has also fallen behind schedule, despite ongoing funding from the national government.

Phase one of the project is expected to deliver 324 housing units, including single-bedroom, two-bedroom, and three-bedroom units, and is currently reported to be over 50 per cent complete.

The Kiprugut Chumo Stadium, formerly Kericho Green Stadium, also remains incomplete years after initial works began.

Despite Sh110 million spent in 2019 during the tenure of former Governor Paul Chepkwony to install an artificial tartan track, critical infrastructure such as a perimeter wall, parking facilities, and sanitation amenities remain unfinished.

The stadium, renamed in honour of Kiprugut Chumo, was the site of tragedy during the 2023 Mashujaa Day celebrations, where four people lost their lives in a stampede at Gate C, further highlighting concerns over incomplete infrastructure and safety preparedness.

Even then, Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot announced government plans to roll out major road construction projects across the county.

These include the Kaplelit–Timboroa–Barsiele road in Kipkelion West, the Sabunit–Hill Tea road in Kipkelion East, the Torit–Kengut–Kotaburot–Kipsitet–Kipranye road spanning Ainamoi, Belgut, and Bureti constituencies, and the Kampala–Bandabilis road in Bureti.

He added that some roads previously upgraded to bitumen standards—such as the Brooke–Kaptenet–Mileine road and the Cheborgei–Cheplanget–Sotik road—have already deteriorated and now require urgent rehabilitation.

In the neighbouring Bomet County, a water project launched in 2015 to serve over 7,000 residents of Konoin, Sotik and Bureti constituencies has stalled.

The multi- billion shillings water project was at the heart of the people; they were thrilled, and when the much-hyped project failed to take off, it cast a dark shadow in the region.

The dam was launched with great optimism.

The project was expected to secure water, boost food production and support economic growth in the county that struggles with water shortage.

Years later, the construction site remains idle despite billions of shillings pumped.

The delay has turned the dam into a symbol of ambition and uncertainty. What was meant to be a solution now raises questions about planning, oversight and the long-term use of public funds.

Residents who expected fast progress now view unfinished works as reminders of promises that have not been met.

The repeated delays have reduced trust in the government and raised concerns over how such large projects were approved without clear timelines and safeguards.

The project, mooted back in 2015, was intended to supply water to the residents of the two counties of Bomet and Kericho.

It was to be implemented for Sh21 billion and completed in a span of three years.

Located along the Kipsonoi River within the Southwest of Mau Forest reserve in Konoin, the dam was set to provide water to over 75 per cent of Bomet County and some areas within Buret in Kericho County.

With a reservoir capacity of 18.8 million cubic meters (18.8 billion litres), the project is set to serve a population of 709,000 people within an estimated coverage area of 1052km².

The proposed project was designed and strategically positioned to supply water through a pure gravity system, which is economical in construction, sustainable in operation and maintenance.

When he assumed office, President William Ruto reiterated his commitment to completing all stalled projects, including the Bosto project, listing it as one of the 100 priority dams across the country.

He announced during a visit to the South Rift that he has secured funding from the Chinese project towards its completion.                     

 Ruto was in China in September 2024 for the 9th Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit.

"We have secured Sh15 billion from the Chinese government for the project. I will be returning to go and sign the agreement," Ruto said in July 2024 during a tour of South Rift.

The project had initially suffered setbacks after the Kenya Forest Service and the National Environmental Authority (NEMA) raised concerns about it.

They later, however, cleared it for construction.

Some of the proposed components of the project were a 40-metre-high dam, a water treatment plant that is capable of handling up to 56,000 cubic metres per day and a 200-kilometre-long transmission line including storage reservoirs.

In Baringo County, various projects the President had committed to completing have stalled.

Among the projects is the completion of the construction of the 100-kilometer Marigat-Mochongoi-Karandi road. The project was part of a broader initiative intended to enhance security, and connectivity in the area. Ruto inspected the project in late 2025.

Insecurity was also among the issues the government had promised to tackle leading to heavy deployment of security personnel. The construction of affordable housing in Kabarnet and Marigat has also stalled.

“Little has been done, the promise to complete construction of roads is yet to be fulfilled, the construction of affordable housing has also stalled,” said Isaiah Biwott, a resident.

In Nakuru County, the construction of Itare dam remains a promise. Little has been done to ensure the resumption of construction works.

Since he assumed office, President Ruto is on record promising that the stalled project will be revived.

In May 2024, Government Spokesperson said the government’s plan to revive the construction of the dam in Kuresoi North will cost the taxpayers an extra Sh5 billion.

Initially, the dam whose construction was launched in 2016, was to cost Sh35 billion. He said the dam's cost has since risen to Sh40 billion.

He said the government will also compensate those who were affected by the project.

He said the Italian Government will fund the project while the Kenya Government will look into the issue of taxes and compensation.

Mwaura revealed that money collected from the supply of water to Nakuru residents will be used to settle the debt.

The project comprises a 57m high dam, 100,000m3/day water treatment plant, 1.2m diameter 113km pipeline, 14.5km bulk transfer tunnel, water distribution improvement works, sewerage network, and treatment works, which were to be completed in April 2021.

It was expected to serve more than 800,000 people in Molo, Njoro, Rongai, Kuresoi, and Nakuru Town.

[BY STEPHEN RUTTO, JULIUS CHEPKWONY, NIKKO TANUI AND KIPRONO KURGAT]