Tanzania’s minister rubbishes Ruto’s claim that Kenya has more tarmacked roads than EAC countries

A fresh dispute has emerged between Kenya and Tanzania over infrastructure data, after President William Ruto claimed that Kenya has more tarmacked roads than all other East African Community (EAC) countries combined.

Speaking during a Church service at Karen Africa Gospel Church in Nairobi on Sunday, Ruto defended Kenya’s economic standing and infrastructure development, stating that the country should be compared with other middle-income economies.

“Kenya is a middle-income country; our neighbours are the least developed countries. There is a big difference. If you want to compare Kenya fairly with others, compare Kenya with other middle-income countries,” he said.

The Head of State went further and highlighted the scale of Kenya’s road network, arguing that it surpasses that of its regional peers.

“We have 20,000 kilometres of tarmac to maintain and we have 6,000 kilomtres of tarmac under construction. The 20,000 kilometres to maintain is actually the same for the other six or seven East African countries. If you add the number of kilometres in Uganda, Tanzania, DRC, Rwanda, Burundi and South Sudan, it is not 20,000…our 20,000 kilometres is more than all the tarmac in all the other seven countries in the EAC- that is what we are maintaining,” he said.

“The 6,000km we are constructing now in Kenya is equivalent to all the tarmacs in the neighbouring country, which has been built for 60 years.”

Ulega also refuted the economic status of his country, saying: “Let it be known that Tanzania is also a middle-income economy. And in East Africa, we are only two, us and Kenya. Tanzania has a total of 16,000 kilometres of tarmac, both in the urban and rural areas. Hawa majirani wako na 6,100km. Ukichukua za Tanzania 16,000 plus the Kenyan 6,100, utapata about 22,000 plus."

“Kwa hivo, hizo takwimu za kutudogosha za kwamba sisi wote katika EAC hatuwezi kufikia 20,000 is not true."

World Bank places Kenya as the largest economy in East Africa with a 2024 GDP of approximately $120 billion, compared to Tanzania’s $78.8 billion.

Kenya, a middle-income country, leads in financial services and technology, while Tanzania shows higher growth rates and faster agricultural development.