Sh100 billion Isiolo-Mandera highway to open up Northern Kenya-Ruto

The construction of the 750-kilometre Isiolo–Mandera highway is set to transform Northern Kenya economically by unlocking new opportunities across the region.

President William Ruto has affirmed that his administration is committed to completing the project on schedule as part of its broader agenda to address historical injustices in the region.

“We are building one of the longest and most comprehensive roads in Kenya — the 750km Isiolo–Mandera road at a cost of Sh100 billion — to demonstrate our commitment to developing every part of our country,” he said on Wednesday, February 11, during an inspection tour of the Kulamawe–Garbatulla section of the project.

“Under our leadership, we will correct the past of marginalisation and discrimination and rewrite a future of transformation that leaves no Kenyan, no region, and no community behin,” he added.

The road network, which traverses the counties of Isiolo, Garissa, Wajir, and Mandera, will harness the hidden potential of the historically marginalised region by opening it up to agriculture and other key sectors, the President said.

“Northern Kenya is where the future of our agriculture lies. The completion of the Isiolo–Mandera and Isiolo–Garissa–Lamu roads will open up the region, actualising our vision of becoming a food-secure country in the long run,” he stated.

The Head of State takes a selfie with one of the beneficiaries

Reflecting on the project’s progress, the President noted that construction is now 45 per cent complete. “When I launched the project in February last year, it looked like a story. Today, it is 45 per cent complete. We are finally connecting the nation, and the project will neither be delayed nor derailed,” he affirmed.

Accompanied by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, the Head of State said the highway — part of the Horn of Africa Gateway Development Project — is on course and will be delivered as scheduled.

During his development tour of Northern Kenya, President Ruto also launched the NYOTA programme in Garissa, where he presided over the disbursement of Sh63 million in start-up capital to 2,520 young entrepreneurs in the county.

The programme provides financial support to young businesspeople to help them start or expand their ventures and is designed to ensure transparency, accountability, and inclusivity.

“Our goal is to provide equal economic opportunities to all young people and optimally harness their energy, creativity, and skills for the transformation of our country,” he said.

The Garissa Affordable Housing Project

Each beneficiary received Sh22,000 deposited directly into their NYOTA Pochi la Biashara wallet, with an additional Sh3,000 channelled to the Haba Haba savings scheme through the National Social Security Fund (NSSF).

As part of his development tour of the region, the President also laid the foundation stone for a Sh279 million state-of-the-art Innovation Centre at Garissa University. He further announced that the government is investing Sh750 million in the construction of college and university hostels that will accommodate more than 1,700 students at the institution.

President Ruto also inspected the ongoing construction of Garissa Airport, a Sh550 million project expected to be completed within three months. He additionally toured the Affordable Housing project in the town to assess its progress.