Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has defended President William Ruto’s development record, saying the government has an extensive scorecard that cannot be ignored.
Kindiki said the National Infrastructure Fund would help Kenya mobilise adequate resources for major road projects and address longstanding challenges in road financing.
He said the government’s next major dual-carriageway project after the Rironi-Mau Summit Road would connect Makutano, Mwea, Embu, Chuka, Meru and Maua.
“After the Rironi-Mau Summit Road, the next dual carriageway we are planning for will be in this region, and I can assure it will be a major economic boost to people living and doing business around Makutano, Mwea, Embu, Chuka, Meru and Maua,” Kindiki said.
The Deputy President spoke on Thursday while inspecting the KSh2.5 billion Kibugua-Mukuuni-Itugururu-Kabururu-Kamaindi-Murugi Road Junction project in Chuka-Igambang’ombe Constituency, Tharaka Nithi County.
Government targets major infrastructure projects
Kindiki said the road project would improve transport and give farmers better access to markets.
He said the National Infrastructure Fund was intended to mobilise substantial financing for major infrastructure projects instead of spreading available resources across short road sections.
“We have to stop with things of five, six kilometres, 15 kilometres, because if we continue at that speed, this country will remain behind for a long time,” he said.
Kindiki said the government wanted Kenya to become a major construction site over the next 10 to 15 years, with the country potentially attaining first-world status within two to three decades.
In Maara, the Deputy President also inspected the Marima-Makutano Road, which he said would extend the completed Kathwana-Makutano road and connect it to the Thuci-Nkubu road.
He also praised young people employed on the Chuka project, saying infrastructure development was creating opportunities for skilled workers and artisans.
“I am very happy to see young people actively working. When we see this kind of energy, focus, professionals and artisans, we feel very good, and we see that our country has hope,” Kindiki said.
Kindiki turns fire on Gachagua
Kindiki, however, shifted his attention to former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, challenging him to account for his own development record while he was in government.
He asked Gachagua to identify roads, water projects and electricity connections he helped deliver to residents of Tharaka Nithi before criticising the current administration.
“Before he talks about ‘one term’, ‘Kasongo’ and ‘Soprano’, firstly, he should tell the people of Tharaka Nithi, when he was in power, which road he constructed, which water projects he brought, and which electricity he brought,” Kindiki said.
The Deputy President also rejected claims that he undermined Gachagua during their time in government.
He said his two years as Interior Cabinet Secretary were largely focused on national security and denied insulting the former Deputy President.
“I never insulted the one who had sat on the seat of Deputy President. There is not even one day that I insulted him,” he said.
Kindiki said Gachagua had asked him to leave government during their fallout, but he declined because he considered it the government they had been elected to serve.
“This is our government. We cannot leave because if we leave, other people who never voted for this government would be called in and they would take over our government,” he said.
2027 political contest
Kindiki challenged Gachagua and other critics of the Kenya Kwanza administration to present their development records for comparison with the current government’s achievements.
“Let those who are criticising us put their development record on the table when they held positions of influence, then let Kenyans compare their scorecard with ours,” he said.
With the 2027 General Election approaching, Kindiki said the political contest would ultimately be decided on the ground.
“Let us meet on the ground. You cannot match our energy. You cannot match our skills. You cannot match our efforts,” he said.
