KILGORIS, Narok County – If you’ve ever tried to navigate the bumpy, dusty trails between Narok and Nakuru, you know the feeling. It’s the kind of journey that rattles your bones and tests your patience. For decades, the locals have heard the same sweet song from politicians: “We will build this road.” And for decades, nothing but silence and potholes.
But on Easter Sunday, President William Ruto stood inside a church in Kilgoris and made a pledge that sounded different—not just because of the venue, but because of the pocketbook behind it.
Speaking to a congregation that has heard this promise before, Ruto didn’t shy away from the bitter history. “And then there is this road which you were promised by the first government of the republic,” he said, his voice echoing through the pews. “You were also promised by the second, third, and fourth governments. But never fulfilled.”
He then dropped the headline: He’s personally taking charge of a new Class B road that will finally stitch together Narok and Kajiado Counties, running all the way from Marua, Enkaka, Enosail, Kilgoris, and Cheptuka in Narok, to Salgaa in Nakuru County. We’re talking about a solid 140 to 160 kilometers of fresh tarmac.
But here’s the twist that has everyone talking. Unlike the usual election-year pledges that vanish with the campaign posters, Ruto revealed he’s already been on the phone—not with local contractors, but with the World Bank. Yes, that World Bank. The global money lender is apparently ready to open its checkbook for this one.
“That road will go all the way to Salgaa,” the President assured the faithful. “I have already talked to the World Bank, and I will construct a Class B road. You just need to have faith. I know you have been deceived before. But I stand here before the church to assure you that I will construct this road myself.”
For those who don’t speak road-nerd, a Class B road isn’t just some rural pathway. It’s the backbone of the country’s transport network. Think of it as the key artery connecting county headquarters, major market towns, and economic hubs. These are the roads that feed into the big international highways—the Class A giants like the Nairobi–Nakuru–Eldoret–Malaba route. In short, this isn’t a small favor. It’s a game-changer for farmers, traders, and anyone who moves goods between these counties.
Now, before you start planning that smooth Sunday drive, let’s talk timing. The President didn’t give a hard date. But whispers from inside the Narok County government suggest things could move fast. Sources say the plan is to break ground as early as July this year, starting from Impopong in Narok County.
Of course, you’d be forgiven for raising an eyebrow. Just last month, the government went back to the World Bank’s well, asking for more cash to finish the massive 750-kilometer Isiolo-Mandera highway. Nobody is saying yet whether this new Kilgoris road is part of that same pot of money, or a separate loan altogether.
And that raises a pretty obvious question. Just last year, Ruto launched a flashy Ksh5 trillion National Infrastructure Fund (NIF), which was supposed to be the magic bullet that moved Kenya away from the old habit of borrowing for every single project. So why are we still queuing up at the World Bank’s door? The answer, for now, is stuck in the same traffic as everyone else.
What’s not stuck is the President’s list of promises. He has already committed to tarmacking a staggering 28,000 kilometers of road before his time is up. That’s enough blacktop to stretch from here to the moon and part of the way back. Alongside this new Narok-Nakuru corridor, his administration is also pushing major projects like the 175-kilometer Mau-Rironi dual carriageway to unclog the nightmare on the Nairobi-Nakuru highway, and the new Nithi Bridge in Tharaka Nithi to stop the deadly accidents that have haunted that area.
So, is this the one that finally breaks the cycle of broken promises? The people of Kilgoris have heard the song before. But this time, the music comes with a World Bank loan and a President who says he’ll hold the steering wheel himself. For now, all they can do is watch, wait, and pray—which, fittingly, is exactly where this promise was made.
