President William Ruto has announced plans to mobilize Sh1.5 trillion to build an additional 10,000 kilometres of new tarmac roads across Kenya, saying improved infrastructure is key to driving economic growth and supporting farmers.
Speaking on Monday, during the launch of the Mau Forest
Complex Integrated Conservation and Livelihood Improvement Programme, in Nakuru
County, Ruto said the government would establish a National Infrastructure Fund
to finance the ambitious project.
He said the fund will mobilise resources through multiple
sources, including the national budget, privatization, the capital markets, and
public–private partnerships (PPPs).
“We need sufficient roads in Kenya if we have to grow our
economy sufficiently,” the President said.
“If we have to facilitate the people of Kenya to transport
their agricultural produce and participate in growing our economy, we need a
minimum of another 10,000 kilometres of new tarmac in Kenya, and we need Sh1.5
trillion to be able to drive that programme.”
Ruto emphasized that expanding Kenya’s road network is vital
to linking producers to markets and unlocking the economic potential of rural
areas.
He said the government must “think outside the box” to
attract private investment into infrastructure projects instead of relying
solely on public funds.
“For us to do that, we are going to have a National
Infrastructure Fund and we are going to look for resources in different ways
using the budget, privatization, capital markets, PPPs so that we can develop
sufficient roads in all parts of the Republic of Kenya,” he said.
The President said that involving the private sector would
accelerate the rollout of key infrastructure projects while reducing pressure
on the exchequer.
“We have to think outside the box if we have to build enough
roads in the Republic of Kenya. We have to bring investments from the private
sector,” he added.
The announcement comes as the government faces growing
demands for better infrastructure to support agriculture, trade, and
industrialization.
Many regions, particularly in rural Kenya, continue to
struggle with poor road networks that make it difficult for farmers to
transport produce and for businesses to reach markets.
The proposed fund is expected to complement ongoing national
projects under the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA), the Kenya Rural
Roads Authority (KeRRA), and the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA).
The President said his administration is ready and will soon
be reaching out to parliament to enact laws governing the fund and its use.
“We are going to parliament to start a new fund called the National Infrastructure Fund to enable us to build enough roads and make sure the roads are complete,” Ruto said.
