President William Ruto has announced that the construction of the Sh677 million Narok Airport will be completed within the next two months, in a move expected to boost air connectivity and tourism in the county.
Ruto said the airport would improve access to the Maasai Mara National Reserve, one of Kenya’s leading tourism destinations, while supporting the growth of domestic and international travel.
Speaking on Tuesday during the first day of a two-day visit to Narok County, the President said the facility would serve both domestic and international passengers.
He said the airport would also support scheduled weekly flights from the Maasai Mara through Nairobi’s Wilson Airport.
“The construction of Narok Airport is set to be completed in the next two months,” Ruto said.
The President also announced that the Kilgoris Airstrip had been completed and would complement the Narok Airport in improving transport within the expansive county.
Ruto said Kenya was targeting to increase international visitor numbers from the current 2.7 million to five million by 2028, with tourism expected to remain a major source of jobs.
He said Kenya’s growing international standing was reflected in his invitation to the G7 Summit in France in July and the Africa Forward Summit held in Nairobi in May and jointly hosted by Kenya and France.
During his tour, Ruto launched several development projects, including road construction, electricity infrastructure and a modern market.
He launched construction of the 59-kilometre Enengetia Olkurto Olposimoru road in Narok North. The road will connect several areas and open up an agriculture-rich region by improving transportation of vegetables, maize, wheat and dairy products to markets.
Ruto said the Government was constructing 300 kilometres of roads in Narok at a cost of Sh6 billion.
He also cited ongoing projects including the Noswani Naikarra Morijo road, Ololung’a Ewaso Ng’iro road, Ololung’a Sogoo Saptet Mulot road and the 40 kilometre Suswa Inkorionito Naiekia Enkare road.
In Narok South, he launched the 20-kilometre Ololung’a Ewaso Ng’iro road and handed over the Ololung’a Mama Mboga Modern Market.
Ruto said the Government had set aside Sh15 billion for affordable housing, modern markets and student hostels in the county.
On electricity, the President said Sh2.8 billion would be used to connect 15,000 additional households to power. He said 14,000 households had already been connected over the past three years.
He also launched the Sh62 million Olposimoru Power Station, which is expected to connect 300 homes.
“We want to ensure that all Kenyans are connected to power to boost business and lift livelihoods,” he said.
Ruto also highlighted support for farmers, saying the price of a 50 kilogramme bag of fertiliser would fall from Sh2,500 to KSh2,000 from September, while seed maize prices would be cut by half.
“This year we have had a challenge with drought. We are, therefore, offering support to farmers by reducing the cost of inputs,” he said.
On healthcare, Ruto said 465,000 people in Narok had registered with the Social Health Authority and urged more residents to enrol.
He defended SHA against critics, saying it had registered 32.5 million Kenyans in less than two years, compared with eight million people registered under NHIF over nearly six decades.
On education, he announced that 20,000 additional teachers would be hired by the end of the year, bringing the total number employed by the Government in four years to more than 120,000.
Ruto also linked development to electoral politics, urging Kenyans to reject leaders who rely on tribalism and hatred instead of presenting development agendas.
“Kenyans want an agenda that delivers development and progress, not empty talk,” he said.
He pledged to ensure equitable development across the country and end what he described as the politics of marginalisation.
“Narok is a rich agricultural county, and there is no reason why you should not have good roads,” Ruto told residents of Narok South.
“I will end politics of marginalisation. That is what the Constitution requires of me,” he added.
Local leaders praised the Government’s development record in Narok and pledged their support for Ruto’s re-election in 2027.
Narok Governor Patrick ole Ntutu said the county had witnessed significant development over the past four years, while Narok West MP Gabriel Tongoyo said the pace of development showed that “the journey to a first-world economy is unstoppable”.