President Ruto speaks out after criticism for launching the same road twice

President William Ruto has come out to offer an explanation after criticism from Kenyans online for launching the same road twice.

President Ruto on Thursday toured Nyandarua County, where he announced that he had launched the tarmacking of the 55-Kilometre Captain-Ndemi/Wanjohi-Kwa Matu-Geta-Kahuruko-Ndunyu Njeru Road.

However, a quick search showed that Ruto had – curiously – launched the same road five years ago – on November 26, 2018 – when he was still the Deputy President.

This revelation rubbed many Kenyans online the wrong way, with a large number of them hitting out at the Head of State for what some termed as an attempt to dupe the nation.

President Ruto has now spoken out, saying that after he launched the road project when he was the country’s second-in-command, the funding was cut by the government.

This, according to a statement issued by State House Spokesperson Hussein Mohamed on Friday, was done in a bid to tame Ruto and frustrate his then political ambitions following the infamous ‘handshake’ between former President Uhuru Kenyatta and opposition chief Raila Odinga.

“During last year's election campaigns, President Ruto promised to complete all stalled projects, including roads. During the ‘Handshake’ (2018-2022), many projects he launched were deliberately denied funding even though they were in the government's programme,” stated Mohamed.

“This was to frustrate the then Deputy President and his bid for the presidency. Today, it's evident that the architects of these schemes that they thought would frustrate President Ruto, ultimately hurt the people, the economy and Kenya.”

The State House Spokesperson went on to add that, by launching the road for the second time – this time as Head of State – Ruto is merely fulfilling the promises he made to the electorate during tha campaign period.

“...the President is and will clean up the mess. He promised to complete all stalled projects before embarking on new ones. This is the President fulfilling his pledges,” Mohamed added.

Regarding the second launch of the construction of the 55-Kilometre Captain-Ndemi/Wanjohi-Kwa Matu-Geta-Kahuruko-Ndunyu Njeru Road:

During last year's election campaigns, President Ruto promised to complete all stalled projects, including roads. During the ‘Handshake’… pic.twitter.com/Zb4gusjrzp— Hussein Mohamed, MBS. (@HusseinMohamedg) April 7, 2023