President William Ruto’s four-day development tour of Kericho County has set the stage for the expansion and upgrading of Kericho Town towards city status, with major investments unveiled in urban infrastructure, housing, education, health, roads, water, electricity, and sports.
The Government has secured 800 acres at Chelimo-Kevogo, just a short distance from Kericho Town, to facilitate the town’s expansion as part of plans to position Kericho for city status, with an additional 12 link roads also set to be upgraded to bitumen standards.
At Chelimo-Kevogo, President Ruto laid the foundation stone for 2,280 Affordable Housing units in a Sh5.9 billion project expected to provide new homes and create employment through construction and related activities.
The President also launched the Chelimo Special Economic Zone, which will host investments in business process outsourcing, agro-industry, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, biotechnology, and light agricultural machinery, with business process outsourcing alone expected to create more than 10,000 jobs for young people in Kericho and beyond.
The Head of State also initiated the Sh5.6 billion University of Kabianga School of Medicine and Health Sciences, whose First Phase will include the School of Medicine, School of Nursing, a central e-learning library, lecture theatres and administration facilities.
Within Kericho Town, construction and upgrading of the Kiprugut Chumo Stadium is being undertaken at a cost of Sh1 billion to establish a modern sporting and events facility with infrastructure capable of hosting major sporting competitions and other public events.
President Ruto who addressed residents at Kericho Central Business District announced Sh8 billion secured for construction of a referral hospital in Kericho Town, starting November this year, while a separate referral hospital is planned for Londiani with the launch of the construction expected in October this year.
The urban expansion plans were accompanied by major road investments across the County, with the Government committing Sh22 billion to construct over 300 kilometres of roads in Kericho County.
In Sigowet-Soin, President Ruto launched the upgrading of the 80-kilometre Torit-Kenegut-Koitaburot-
The road is expected to strengthen links between rural production areas and markets, while improving access to social and economic services along the route.
In Bureti, the President launched the upgrading of the 34-kilometre Panda Pilis-Kampala/Bakoyot-Mabasi Road to bitumen standards, alongside other road works covering Kapkatet-Cheplanget, Kapkatet-Boito, Getarwet Junction-Roret-Machorwa, Kiptewit-Chebaibai and Kaptoit-Getarwet Junction.
The President also laid the foundation stone for the Sh1.1 billion Kapkatet Stadium, a 10,000-seater facility that will include a standard football pitch and a six-lane running track, while Sh1.6 billion was allocated to the Kapkatet and Litein water projects.
President Ruto also officially opened the Sh50 million Kapkatet ESP Market, which can accommodate more than 200 traders and is equipped with electricity, water, sanitation facilities, storage, cold rooms and internet connectivity.
In Kipkelion East, the President launched construction of the 53-kilometre Sabunit-Kapkondor/Furaha-Hill Tea Access Road at a cost of Sh3.1 billion, with the project expected to improve connectivity between tea-growing areas, processing facilities and markets.
Kipkelion West Constituency also received a major road investment with the launch of construction of the 43-kilometre Tegat-Kichuchun Road, alongside the flagging-off of Last Mile Connectivity poles and materials to expand electricity access.
In Belgut Sub-county, President Ruto commissioned 18 kilometres of Kapsoit-SBI/Cheboseron link roads, while Sosiot benefited from an ESP Market and expanded electricity connectivity.
Dr. Ruto revealed that SHA registration in Kericho had reached 73 percent, with 652,000 residents enrolled, 94,000 having accessed treatment through SHA and another 450,000 benefiting from the Primary Healthcare programme, while KSh3.8 billion had been disbursed to hospital facilities within the county over the last one-and-a-half years.
The four-day tour covered all six sub-counties of Sigowet-Soin, Bureti, Kipkelion East, Ainamoi, Kipkelion West, and Belgut, bringing major national development projects closer to residents while advancing Kericho’s plans for expanded urban infrastructure, improved connectivity, and city status.
President Ruto was accompanied by Senate Majority Leader and Kericho Senator Aaron Cheruiyot, Kericho Governor Dr. Eric Mutai, Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir, Lands, Public Works, Housing and Urban Development Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome, Agriculture Principal Secretary Dr. Paul Kipronoh Rono, and Members of Parliament from the six constituencies.
By Kibe Mburu
