- Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka has accused President William Ruto of misleading Ukambani residents with stalled development promises, citing the unstarted Emali-Matiliku road
- Despite a high-profile launch and a KSh 1.1 billion budget announcement, Kalonzo claimed he found no construction activity at the site two days later
- He condemned the administration’s focus on publicity over progress, calling it a nationwide pattern of empty fanfare and campaign
Kai Eli, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings more than three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.
Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka has criticised President William Ruto for what he described as misleading Ukambani residents with non-existent development projects.
Source: Twitter
Kalonzo cited the yet-to-commence construction of the Emali-Matiliku road, which the president had launched on the first day of his working tour of Ukambani.
How much will Emali-Matiliku road cost?
While addressing residents of Emali town on Wednesday, November 12, the president announced that the road would be constructed at a cost of KSh 1.1 billion and would span 20 kilometres as part of the broader Ukia-Emali Highway.
According to the president, the road would enhance access to key markets by linking Kativani, Manywani, Matiliku, Kalamba, Nziu, and Ukia trading centres, as well as Wote town, with onward connections to Kajiado, Nairobi, and Mombasa.
He further stated that the project would reduce transport costs, boost trade in perishable goods and livestock products, and enable farmers to access markets more efficiently, thereby cutting post-harvest losses and increasing their income.
The president proceeded to flag off the machinery, signalling that construction would commence shortly.
However, two days later, Kalonzo visited the site to verify whether any work had begun.
Has construction of Emali-Matiliku road started?
Kalonzo went there Friday evening, November 14, and claimed to have found no activity on the ground.
He found the plaque bearing the project’s details with no sign of actual work going on.
The Wiper leader immediately accused Ruto of peddling empty rhetoric disguised as development and engaging Kenyans in what he termed treacherous political theatrics.
He also castigated the president for allegedly prioritising public relations stunts over tangible service delivery.
“I visited the Emali-Matiliku road, which was launched just two days ago by Mr. Ruto. Shockingly, all the big machinery is gone, and no work has begun. This pattern repeats itself across the country: a regime more interested in grand launches and photo opportunities than in actual progress. Projects are announced with fanfare, but the people are left waiting for real work to happen. This is why the whole country sings #WANTAM as our second National Anthem,” he said.
Meanwhile, the president got a fairly good reception across the Ukambani counties as local leaders aligned with the opposition showed up in his rallies.
What promise did Ruto give to Ukambani voters?
In Makueni, Governor Mutula Kilonzo Junior welcomed the president, indirectly endorsing that he deliver on the region’s key projects.
Source: Facebook
Meanwhile, Ruto vowed to include the Ukambani electorate in his plans, promising to get them out of the opposition.
The president noted that the region had been accustomed to the opposition for a long time, and that Kalonzo’s five-year stint in the Mwai Kibaki and Raila Odinga-led grand-coalition government as the vice president did not benefit them.
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Ruto vowed to court all of them into his fold, promising them more goodies should they consider voting for him in 2027.
Kalonzo is regarded as Ukambani’s go-to leader and is currently aligned with the United Opposition, which has resolved to unseat the president.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
