President William Ruto has slammed Kenyans trolling him online about the 750km Isiolo-Mandera road project.
Speaking in Nairobi on Wednesday, the Head of State hit out at online trolls using his pledge to construct a 750km road from Isiolo to Mandera to make memes and videos go viral on social media platforms like TikTok.
“I was in Northern Kenya and did announce a major road artery that will be constructed from Isiolo through Wajir, Mandera and many other people think it is a joke. In this country, sometimes we take matters of life and death as if it is a joke. I’m committed to delivering that 750 kilometers of road because for a very long time, we have left Northern Kenya behind,” Ruto said.
He was speaking when presiding over the signing of contracts for mini-grids under Kenya off-grid solar project.
During his visit to the Northern region in Mandera, the head of state’s speech took social media by storm with his mastery of the route the road will follow.
“Tutatengeza barabara itoke Mandera, ikuje Ramu, ikuje Garre, ikuje El-wak, ikuje Kobo, ikuje pale Kotulo, ikuje Tarbat, ipitie hapa Wajir, iende Samatan, iteremke Modogashe, ifike Isiolo, iende Nairobi,” are words Kenyans on social media, including politicians, have turned into dance challenges with some going as far as creating skits on how the president mastered the route.
Meanwhile, Deputy President Prof. Kithure Kindiki has defended the road project insisting it will be completed in two and a half years and that the government will include it in their portfolio come 2027 when seeking re-election.
“Let them mock us but when 2027 comes and we go to account, we will use that road from Isiolo to Mandera and that part of the country will be opened up for economic transformation,” Kindiki said on Tuesday.
The two top government officials have, however, given different figures on the number of contractors on site. President Ruto said there were seven while his deputy stated they were 11.