President William Ruto has in recent days loudly touted his government’s plan to construct a “750km mega infrastructure” in Kenya’s North Eastern region, a claim that has now been exposed as misleading and deceptive.
According to prominent lawyer Willis Evans Otieno, Ruto is taking undue credit for a project that was neither conceived nor financed by his administration.
The Isiolo-Mandera Regional Road Corridor is a World Bank-funded initiative that dates back to 2020, long before Ruto assumed office.
Lawyer Willis Otieno chats with a friend. Photo: Willis Otieno Source: Facebook
According to a screenshot shared by Willis, the project is part of the Horn of Africa Gateway Development Project (HoAGDP), which secured a $750 million loan from the International Development Association (IDA) to enhance regional trade, connectivity, and social services for over 3.2 million people.
Otieno did not mince words in calling out Ruto’s deception, accusing him of “brazen, self-aggrandizing deception” and “puerile chest-thumping over a project he neither conceived nor financed.”
The lawyer further slammed the President for “masquerading as the architect” of a development effort whose groundwork was laid years before his administration took over.
Willis Otieno gestures as he addresses a crowd. Photo: Willis Otieno Source: Facebook
“The Isiolo-Mandera road is a World Bank-funded project, a long-standing initiative that predates your regime, having commenced in 2020,” Otieno pointed out.
“The audacity to masquerade as the architect of this development is an insult to the intelligence of any discerning observer.”
Despite clear evidence that the project was initiated during Uhuru Kenyatta’s presidency, Ruto’s administration has continuously presented it as a fresh initiative under the Kenya Kwanza government.
Suna East MP Junet Mohamed receives Ruto during Nyanza tour in December 2024. Photo: Junet Mohamed Source: Facebook
This revelation now raises questions about how many other projects the government has falsely claimed credit for.
With growing scrutiny over his administration’s honesty, Ruto now faces public backlash for his misleading statements.
Kenyans are left wondering: Is the government truly delivering new developments, or is it merely repackaging old projects for political mileage?
