Ruto inspects Ksh.4.4B road project to open up West Pokot, Kerio Valley

President William Ruto inspected the construction of the 35-kilometre Kopasi River-Lomut-Sigor-Marich Pass road on Friday during his development tour of West Pokot County. The KSh4.4 billion project is 60 per cent complete.

The road forms part of the wider Nakuru-Marich Pass Road, which will provide an alternative to the Nakuru-Eldoret route, shorten the journey to Lodwar by 70 kilometres and reduce travel time by more than two hours.

The project is expected to strengthen links between West Pokot and other parts of the country, improving the movement of people and goods while creating opportunities for trade and investment.

“The project will also open up West Pokot and the wider Kerio Valley to trade and investment, strengthening connectivity as part of our vision of making Kenya a more equal country,” the President said.

During his Friday tour, President Ruto reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to placing West Pokot at the centre of its transformation agenda.

He addressed residents in Sigor and interacted with residents of Makutano town in Kapenguria Constituency, outlining development programmes being implemented in the region to transform lives and livelihoods.

The President said investments in roads, affordable housing, modern markets and electricity connectivity were already producing tangible results, including a rise in land values of more than tenfold.

The road project is among the infrastructure investments expected to improve access to markets and strengthen the economic potential of West Pokot and the wider Kerio Valley.

The alternative route is also expected to ease traffic on the Nakuru-Eldoret route while reducing the distance and time required to travel to Lodwar.

The inspection formed part of the President’s wider assessment of ongoing development projects in West Pokot, including a modern market, a stadium, electricity connections and student accommodation at the Kenya Medical Training College in Kapenguria.