President William Ruto on Wednesday called for stronger infrastructure investment as he broke ground for the 17.8km Etago–Ekona–Geteri–Nyamaiya road in Kisii County.
He said the project will “significantly ease movement of people and goods.” He also announced electricity expansion for 28,000 homes, a new stadium, and upgrades to Suneka Airstrip to improve transport and trade.
Speaking in South Mugirango, Kisii County, he said the government’s economic ambitions depended on strong infrastructure networks linking production zones to markets. “Our aspiration for economic takeoff rides on a sound network of infrastructure, including roads that connect farms to markets, and markets to industries,” he said. The 17.8-kilometre road project is expected to improve connectivity within Kisii County and surrounding regions, enhancing transport efficiency for both people and goods. “The 17.8km stretch will significantly ease movement of people and goods, strengthening trade and improving access to essential services for residents,” he said. The president also highlighted progress in rural electrification in the county, noting that tens of thousands of households have already been connected to electricity over the past three years. “In the last three years here in Kisii, we have connected 41,000 households to electricity,” he said. He added that further expansion is planned this year to increase access to electricity in rural areas. “But still, this year, we have allocated two billion shillings to connect an additional 28,000 households to electricity,” he noted. Beyond energy and roads, President Ruto pointed to ongoing and planned investments in transport and public amenities aimed at improving local living standards. “I was here on Sunday, we brought you a bus as big as an airplane,” he said, referring to improved public transport services in the region. He further announced the construction of a new stadium in Kisii County, saying the project is part of a wider national programme to develop sports infrastructure. “We said that just as we are building a large stadium in Nairobi, we have started the Kisii Stadium project on Sunday. We are constructing a one-billion-shilling stadium, and within six months we will have an international stadium here in Kisii,” he said. The stadium, he added, will serve as a home ground for local football clubs, including Shabana FC. “Shabana FC will have a home stadium,” he said. In addition, the government plans to upgrade Suneka Airstrip in Kisii to improve regional air connectivity. “Today I have secured funds and I am going to expand the runway and build a terminal building,” he said. He added that the upgrades would reduce the need for residents to travel to other counties to access air transport services. “By the end of this year, you will no longer be going to Homa Bay or Kisumu; you will be catching your flights here in Bonchari, here in Suneka,” he said. The President also used the occasion to emphasize national unity, calling for an end to divisive politics based on ethnicity and exclusion. “We have said we are uniting Kenyan politics. We do not want politics of discrimination, hatred and tribalism,” he said. He said his administration’s broad-based political approach was intended to foster inclusion across political divides. “We want to unite all Kenyans, which is why I have formed a broad-based government to bring together UDA supporters and ODM supporters and everyone else, so that we eliminate tribalism and discrimination,” he said. The remarks come as the government continues to roll out infrastructure projects across the country, focusing on roads, energy, transport and sports facilities as key drivers of economic growth. In Kisii County, the combination of road construction, electricity expansion, aviation upgrades and sports infrastructure signals a coordinated push to strengthen regional development and improve access to services. As construction begins on the Etago–Ekona–Geteri–Nyamaiya road, attention will now shift to implementation timelines and the delivery of associated projects, including the stadium and Suneka Airstrip upgrades, which are expected to reshape transport and economic activity in the region.