When President William Ruto re-launched the stalled upgrade of a 75-kilometre road in Bomet East to bitumen standards two and a half years ago, he directed the contractor and the Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA) to complete it within two years.

Residents celebrated, confident that the presidential intervention would finally see completion of the only tarmac road in the constituency whose procurement closed in March 2018.

The Sh2.9 billion project began in 2019 during former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s administration, with then-Deputy President Ruto presiding over its launch. But since Dr Ruto’s April 28, 2023, directive during a re-launch at Merigi trading centre, only seven kilometres have been completed as of August 11, 2025.

Frustrated by the slow pace, the Presidency has now intervened to fast-track the project, warning that at the current rate it could take 16 years to finish.

“I have been assured by the contractor and KeRRA officials that the road will be completed within two years. There should be no excuses. I want this road to be an example of correcting past mistakes on Low Volume Seal Roads,” President Ruto said at the re-launch.

Accompanied by then-Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and Roads CS Davis Chirchir (then Energy CS), Dr Ruto also warned against poor workmanship, promising to inspect the project himself.

To date, only the Tenwek–Merigi–Chemengwa section is complete. The Chemengwa–Kaporuso–Tegat–Chemaner–Kimuchul–Matecha and Chemaner–Kembu–Longisa–Kapkimolwo–Mulot sections remain unfinished.

Following the release of Sh309 million from KeRRA two weeks ago, the contractor — Aero Technology International Engineering Corporation — has been ordered to split its workforce into two teams to speed up work.

Government Delivery Unit (GDU) Senior Director Dr Sitati Orlando, accompanied by South Rift Regional Head Engineer Anderson Kirui and Caleb Muteti, toured the road with Bomet East MP Richard Yegon last week.

Dr Orlando acknowledged the project was far behind schedule.

“The President’s directive was clear — two years for completion. Yet only 15 percent of the work is done. This is unacceptable.”

He warned that if the contractor lacked capacity, “he should be ready for the consequences,” adding that Dr Ruto would personally inspect the road during his next visit.

Under the revised plan, one team will start work at Kaporuso–Tegat–Chemaner–Kimuchul–Matecha, while the other, after finishing the Kaporuso–Kembu–Longisa stretch, will proceed to Kembu–Kapkimolwo–Mulot and Kembu–Chemaner.

MP Yegon has tied his 2027 re-election bid to the road’s completion, saying: “We are confident the 28 kilometres from Chemengwa to Longisa will be done by December. Funding challenges have been addressed, and quality issues like missing culverts are being fixed.”

Residents, however, remain sceptical.

“At the current pace, it will take 16 years to finish. This is a sad turn of events for locals who had pinned their hopes on this road,” lamented businessman Peter Lele.

Kaporuso Chief Margaret Ketuturi said completion would transform the region’s economy and ease access to healthcare.

Since its launch, the project has repeatedly stalled over alleged funding shortages. The contractor abandoned the site in 2020, 2021, 2023, twice in 2024 and once this year before resuming in April.

Residents also criticised the lack of safety measures. Isaiah Mutai said blocked road sections between Chemengwa and Kembu had no alternative routes, while Andrew Rotich noted the contractor failed to maintain uncompleted stretches, forcing long detours to schools, hospitals and markets.

Completion of the road is critical for Bomet East, a major producer of tea, avocado, pyrethrum, onions, potatoes, cabbage, milk and vegetables. Four tea factories — Motigo, Stegro, Kisyet, and Maner — already use the completed stretches, increasing wear and tear.

Jeremiah Bett warned that if standards were not enforced, the road could deteriorate before completion.

Bomet East remains the only constituency in the South Rift with less than 10 kilometres of tarmac. Despite being home to influential former leaders, residents say national development has long bypassed them.