A Ksh1.6 billion road rehabilitation plan by the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) has ignited debate over priorities in public spending and political influence in infrastructure development.
At the centre of the controversy is State House Road, a high-security route leading directly to Ruto’s residence in Nairobi. While KURA insists the project is part of a wider national roads programme, critics argue the timing, cost, and symbolism raise uncomfortable questions about whose interests truly come first at a time when many urban roads remain in dire condition.
The project, quietly signed off days before Christmas, has drawn scrutiny from taxpayers, civil society, and transport experts who say it reflects a troubling pattern in public works allocation.
Ksh1.6 Billion Road Project Raises Questions on Priorities around Ruto’s Residence
According to a tender notice issued by KURA, Director General Silas Kinoti approved the rehabilitation of State House Road on December 19, committing Ksh1.6 billion to the project. The road begins in Nairobi’s Central Business District, links with University Way, and runs straight to State House, which also hosts Ruto’s Residence.
KURA describes the route as critical infrastructure serving government offices and facilitating smooth movement within a key administrative corridor. The authority says the works will ease congestion and improve traffic flow in one of the city’s busiest sections.
Yet the scale of the allocation has raised eyebrows. Transport analysts note that several Nairobi roads with higher traffic volumes and poorer safety records continue to deteriorate with limited intervention. Informal settlements and middle-income estates grapple with impassable access roads, flooding, and potholes, often repaired through temporary patchwork.
The optics of spending Ksh1.6 billion on a road leading to Ruto’s Residence have proven difficult to ignore, especially amid rising taxes, cost-of-living pressures, and public calls for austerity in government spending.
Tender Process and Scrutiny over Transparency
KURA has outlined a detailed procurement process for the project. Interested bidders must submit a range of documents including certificates of incorporation, tax compliance certificates, CR12 forms, annual practising licences, and valid registration for Access to Government Procurement Opportunities for special projects.
Completed tender documents are to be placed in sealed envelopes, clearly marked with the tender name and reference number, and deposited at KURA’s Nairobi Regional Offices or Headquarters by Thursday, January 22.
While the process appears compliant on paper, governance watchdogs say transparency concerns persist. Large infrastructure tenders have historically attracted allegations of inflated costs, insider influence, and politically connected contractors.
Civil society groups are demanding that KURA publicly justify the cost breakdown for the State House Road project and explain why it warrants Ksh1.6 billion when comparable urban road rehabilitations often cost significantly less.
They also want assurances that the road’s proximity to the State House did not influence its prioritisation over other critical routes.
Broader KURA Road Programme under the Spotlight
KURA maintains that the State House Road project is just one part of a much larger plan. The authority has announced that 92 additional roads across the country are slated for rehabilitation, with a combined budget of Ksh15.6 billion.
Among the roads listed are Mfangano Ring Road, Mathare access roads, Casaurina Road in Kilifi, Kagio Town to Kanharu to Kathaka Road, and Nakuru Town East Roads. Kinoti has stated that successful bidders will be required to deliver works strictly within government specifications and timelines.
Supporters of the programme argue that focusing on flagship roads enhances connectivity, boosts investor confidence, and reduces long-term maintenance costs. However, critics counter that lumping the road to Ruto’s Residence into a national list does little to erase perceptions of preferential treatment.
They argue that public trust would be better served if KURA published a clear, needs-based ranking showing why each road was selected and how funds were allocated.
Ruto Administration Infrastructure Agenda and Political Undertones
The rehabilitation plan aligns with President William Ruto’s broader infrastructure push. Over the past year, his administration has repeatedly emphasised road upgrades and new transport corridors.
During the 62nd Jamhuri Day celebrations at Nyayo Stadium on December 12, Ruto announced plans to construct a Thika Expressway, describing it as a transformative project for the transport sector. The proposed highway would run from the Museum Hill interchange near the Nairobi Expressway to Thika town, supplementing the existing Thika Superhighway.
Days later, speaking at a church service in Karure, Kiambu County, the president revealed that dualling of the Muthaiga Kiambu Ndumberi road would begin in February 2026. He also confirmed that works on the 175-kilometre Rironi Mau Summit Highway would start in 2026, with motorists expected to pay up to Ksh1,400 in toll fees.
While these announcements project ambition, the Ksh1.6 billion road leading to Ruto’s Residence risks overshadowing them. To many Kenyans, it reinforces a perception that power corridors receive swift and generous funding while ordinary citizens wait years for basic infrastructure.
Unless KURA and the government offer greater transparency and justification, the State House Road project may remain less about traffic flow and more about the uncomfortable intersection of politics, privilege, and public money.
