President William Ruto on Wednesday kicked off his development tour of Kericho County by launching the upgrading to bitumen standards of the 80-kilometre Torit–Kenegut–Koitaburot–
The President launched the project at Mindililwet in Sigowet Soin Constituency, with the contractor having commenced works at Torit. The upgrading of the road is expected to improve access to social and economic services for residents along the corridor and strengthen links between rural production areas and markets.
The President’s first-day programme also included the launch of the Sh1.6 billion Last Mile Electricity Connectivity Project at Soin Sigowet, targeting 16,371 households in Kericho County.
The electricity connections is expected to support households, businesses and trading centres by improving access to power for domestic and productive activities.
“Roads are critical to economic activity; we are constructing 350 kilometres of roads in Kericho County and 6,000 kilometres nationwide, while stalled projects have now resumed. We have allocated additional funding to expand electricity access in Kericho,” said President Ruto.
He congratulated Kericho residents for actively registering with the Social Health Authority (SHA), noting that the county’s registration rate had reached 73 per cent, while the National Government had disbursed Sh3.8 billion to hospitals in Kericho County over the past one and a half years.
He added that Sh1 billion has been allocated for the construction of the Kapkatet Stadium in Bureti Sub-County and an additional Sh1 billion for the construction of the Kiprugut Chumo Stadium in Kericho Town, aimed at enhancing sports infrastructure and providing modern facilities for athletes and the community.
Dr. Ruto further said that Sh1 billion has been allocated for the construction of the Kapkatet Stadium in Bureti Sub-County and an additional Sh1 billion for the construction of the Kiprugut Chumo Stadium in Kericho Town, aimed at enhancing sports infrastructure and providing modern facilities for athletes and the community.
While addressing residents of Soin Sigowet the Head of State confirmed that a new referral hospital would be constructed in Londiani alongside a modern Level 6 hospital in Kericho Town, assuring residents that the two facilities would strengthen healthcare services and improve access to specialized medical care, while directing that the Kerenga Airstrip be completed by December this year.
“Kericho Town must achieve city status with all these developments. We are constructing 12 modern markets in Kericho, with Kipsitet having the biggest market, and on Saturday I will launch the construction of the Chelimo Affordable Housing Project,” said President Ruto.
The President is expected to continue his development tour of Kericho on Thursday, with visits to various development projects and engagements at Furaha in Kipkelion East Sub-County, Rungut Primary and Kapkatet Stadium in Bureti Sub-County.
On Friday the President is expected visit Kokwet in Kipkelion West, Kapsoit in Ainamoi, before concluding on Saturday with the grand finale at Kericho Town.
By Kibe Mburu
