KDF, Police to Protect Ruto’s Ksh100 Billion Infrastructure Project

The government has announced plans to deploy the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) alongside police officers to safeguard the construction of the multi-billion-shilling Isiolo–Mandera road, a key national infrastructure project in Northern Kenya.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen said the decision was reached after consultations with Defence Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya and Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir. He explained that boosting security around the construction zones will help ensure the project is completed on time despite persistent security threats in the region.

Murkomen noted that parts of Northern Kenya have continued to experience insecurity, which poses risks to major development projects. He said enhanced protection will secure contractors, workers, and equipment from hostile elements that may attempt to disrupt progress.

To support smooth implementation, the government has already put in place a detailed security framework. Under the plan, construction teams will work closely with security officers deployed on the ground to maintain uninterrupted operations along the highway.

The road, officially known as the Mandera–Wajir–Garissa–Isiolo Highway, stretches about 750 kilometres and forms a critical section of the Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia-Transport (LAPSSET) Corridor project. Similar security measures will also be extended to other regions facing security challenges where government projects are ongoing.

President William Ruto, Murkomen said, is keen on seeing the project delivered within the agreed timelines through a whole-of-government approach. He emphasized that national security remains a key driver of development, adding that continued engagement with local leaders and regular field assessments will be carried out to ensure security measures remain effective.

The road project was officially launched by President Ruto on Friday, 7 February 2025. Funding has already begun, with the World Bank’s International Development Association releasing an initial Ksh81 billion. The total cost of the road network is estimated at Ksh100 billion.

Once completed, the highway is expected to strengthen regional connectivity by linking Kenya to Ethiopia and South Sudan. The government believes the project will open up economic opportunities in Northern Kenya, a region that has long remained underdeveloped.

Despite initial public criticism when the project was announced, the Ruto administration is confident it will stand out as a major achievement ahead of the 2027 General Elections.

Earlier in December 2025, the government announced plans to roll out the second phase of the project—the 70-kilometre Modogashe–Samatar stretch—following the completion of the first phase. Construction of the 195-kilometre Isiolo–Modogashe section began in May 2025 and is expected to be completed by the end of January 2026.

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