The government is boosting protection along the Isiolo–Mandera Road Project to ensure construction proceeds smoothly, with top officials emphasizing the road’s role in linking northern counties and enhancing national development.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen assured contractors that enhanced security will shield the project from disruptions, highlighting the government’s commitment to safeguarding critical infrastructure in regions that have faced security challenges in the past.
Murkomen called the Isiolo–Mandera Road a transformative venture whose benefits extend beyond transport to fostering national unity and creating opportunities for equitable growth across the north.
“Gateway projects are very important for the country, important for national cohesion and equity of the nation,” Murkomen said, stressing that the road is a key instrument for promoting both development and security in northern Kenya.
He noted that the project is a priority for President William Ruto’s administration, with strict timelines set for completion.
“The road is important for development, as it is important for security,” Murkomen said. “The President is expecting the project to be completed in the shortest time possible.”
Murkomen explained that security measures will cover not just this road but also other major projects in areas prone to instability.
“We will not just single out the Isiolo-Mandera Road project but all others in areas that have security challenges,” he said, noting that the government has adopted a coordinated approach involving multiple agencies.
“We have developed security protocol and we urged contractors to adhere to them so that we do not give the enemy an opportunity to interfere with the project,” he added.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen speaks to the media after chairing a meeting on Isiolo–Mandera Road Project on January 19, 2026.PHOTO/MINAThe remarks came after a strategic meeting with Defence Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya and Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir to finalize a plan for protecting the corridor and accelerating construction. Also in attendance were Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo, Defence PS Patrick Mariru, and Roads PS Joseph Mbugua.
Stretching roughly 740–750 kilometres, the Isiolo–Mandera Road is part of the Horn of Africa Gateway Development initiative and will strengthen connections between northern Kenya, Ethiopia, and Somalia.
The project is divided into multiple sections handled by different contractors and includes upgrades such as new bridges, urban road improvements, and fibre optic installation in key towns. Earthworks and asphalt laying are already underway in several segments, promising significant economic and social transformation by 2027.
Murkomen said the road will also support security operations and assist community water projects along the route, contributing to stability and improved livelihoods for surrounding communities.
Defence CS Tuya reaffirmed her ministry’s commitment to close collaboration among all three ministries to keep the project on track.
“We will even work with the local players to make sure the project is delivered in real time,” she said.
She added, “It is in the interest of the country and the region that the project is completed in good time because of its strategic nature.”
Transport CS Chirchir acknowledged the support of security agencies in enabling uninterrupted work and said efforts are underway to ensure that all sections progress uniformly.
“We want all the sections to move at the same pace. We will bring all the contractors to speed,” he said, adding that the project will also deliver social and economic support to communities along the corridor.
“We will provide social and economical support to communities along the corridor,” Chirchir said.
