President William Ruto has committed Sh19 billion to build or upgrade 11 roads covering 380 kilometres in Bomet County, part of a four-day tour of Bomet and Kericho counties that began September 9 and runs through Saturday. The announcement came as Ruto laid the foundation stone for the Kapkwen Modern Market and toured the Itembe Airstrip, which he said would be ready for use within two months.
On Thursday, the president’s third day in the South Rift, Ruto’s itinerary took him to Furaha in Kipkelion East, Rungut Primary School in Bureti, Kapkatet Stadium, Kiplokyi in Bomet Central and Kamureito in Sotik — a schedule packed with project launches and public rallies across both counties.
What Ruto Announced in Bomet
The Sh19 billion road package is the centrepiece of the tour. Government officials say it covers 11 separate roads and 380 kilometres of works across Bomet County, part of a wider infrastructure push the president has framed as opening up the South Rift’s tea- and dairy-farming economy to markets beyond the region.
Ruto also said a Sh1.7 billion water project in Bomet has been completed, with a further Sh600 million earmarked for December 2026 to extend water connections and upgrade the sewerage system in Bomet town. A new stadium, costed at roughly Sh1 billion, was also announced during the tour.
Where Is Ruto Today, September 10?
Day three of the tour has the president moving through Kipkelion East, Bureti, Bomet Central and Sotik — constituencies that span both Bomet and neighbouring Kericho. Stops include Rungut Primary School and Kapkatet Stadium, both venues typically used for public project launches and rallies rather than closed-door briefings.
The tour concludes Saturday with a stop in Chebunyo before the president moves on to Kericho town, where similar road, water and electricity projects are expected to be unveiled.
Why Are Some Bomet Residents Cautious About the Promises?
Big road announcements are not new in Bomet East, and that history is part of why some residents are withholding celebration until they see machinery on site. A 75-kilometre stretch known as the Silibwet-Merigi-Tegat-Chemaner-Kimuchul road, valued at roughly Sh2.9 billion, has been launched by Ruto twice — once in 2019 as deputy president and again in April 2023 after he took office — yet work has repeatedly stalled over unpaid contractor bills, with only a fraction of the route tarmacked years after it was first flagged as a priority project.
Local leaders in Bomet East have said the constituency, since independence, has struggled to secure a single completed stretch of tarmac despite the region having produced two presidents. Whether the newly announced Sh19 billion package fares differently will depend on whether allocated funds are actually released to contractors on schedule, something past South Rift road projects have not always managed.
| Bomet tour, key figures | Detail |
|---|---|
| Roads pledged | 11 roads, 380km, Sh19 billion |
| Water project | Sh1.7bn completed; Sh600m more planned for December 2026 |
| New stadium | Approx. Sh1 billion |
| Tour dates | September 9-12, 2026, Bomet and Kericho counties |
| Day 3 stops (Sept 10) | Kipkelion East, Bureti, Bomet Central, Sotik |
The South Rift’s tea, dairy and horticulture farmers stand to gain the most from better roads, in a region already among the country’s top earners from cash crops — Bomet and Kericho counties together are consistently ranked among Kenya’s leading tea- and coffee-producing areas.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much has Ruto pledged for roads in Bomet?
Sh19 billion for 11 roads covering 380 kilometres across Bomet County, announced during a four-day tour of Bomet and Kericho that began September 9, 2026.
When will the Bomet roads be completed?
No firm completion date has been given publicly. Past South Rift road projects, including a flagship route in Bomet East, have faced years of delay over funding gaps, so residents and local leaders say they are waiting to see sustained disbursement before treating timelines as firm.
What other projects has Ruto launched on this tour?
A Sh1.7 billion water project has been completed, with Sh600 million more planned for December 2026, plus a roughly Sh1 billion stadium and the Kapkwen Modern Market, whose foundation stone was laid on the tour’s first day.
When does the tour end?
The tour concludes Saturday, September 12, 2026, with a final stop in Chebunyo before the president proceeds to Kericho town.
Further updates on funding disbursement and construction timelines for the Bomet roads plan can be tracked through the Kenya Rural Roads Authority.
Read more from 254.ke: Ruto Unveils Bold 3-Year Development and Job Creation Plan, Political Deals Expose Unmet Promises in Ruto’s Coalition, and Top Coffee Counties Earn Sh17B.
By the 254.ke Newsroom
