Residents of Mt Kenya have spelt out what they want from President William Ruto ahead of next week's development tour.
Topping the wish list is a call for the completion of numerous stalled projects as well as the implementation of various promises made by the President over the past two years.
President Ruto is expected to embark on a tour of the mountain region on April 1 to commission and launch various projects.
In Nyeri, landowners and businessmen along the Kenol-Marua dual carriageway project expect President Ruto to resolve the delayed compensation of their properties, which has been delayed for almost four years.
Kenol-Marua dual carriageway to delay further - CS Macharia
However, the landowners, who ceded their land to pave way for the expansion, expressed fears that they may end up losing their properties if the President does not intervene in the project before they are compensated.
Construction of a 13-kilometre section in Nyeri County has been stalled for almost three years due to delays in compensating affected landowners.
Some 1,350 people from Nyeri County were served with eviction notices about four years ago, but most have yet to be compensated.
Residents have held numerous demonstrations to protest the delay, but these have yet to bear fruit.
Mr Michael Muriithi, a resident who is among those waiting for compensation, said residents had held numerous meetings with national government officials to no avail.
"I have valuation documents showing that the government owes my family Sh4 million. The unpaid compensation has affected the succession process," he said.
Mr Michael Mwangi, who was forced to relocate his hotel business in Karatina town, says he is yet to recover from the eviction.
“As members of the business community, we have incurred heavy losses since our businesses were disrupted by the notice. We thought we would be compensated immediately, but it has turned out to be a long wait,” he said.
Mathira MP Eric Wamumbi said the government had already set aside about Sh2 billion for compensation.
Mathira MP slams Nyeri Governor for avoiding Ruto's governors' meeting
In Kirinyaga, residents cited many stalled projects initiated by former President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Kirinyaga Jubilee Party chairman Mureithi Kang'ara said Kutus-Kimbimbi- Kanjinji, Kiandegwa -Ng'othi -Kagio, Baricho - Getuya- Kiamaina, and PI- Kiamutugu and Kianyaga - Thumaita roads were abandoned by contractors.
He also said the Sh15 billion Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) in Mwea had stalled and residents were looking to the president to revive the work.
"Elections are in 2027, we have more than two years, let us focus on development projects and youth employment, the government is the only one with resources and the president should be given time to develop the region," said Mr Kang'ara.
A billboard featuring photographs of President William Ruto, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, and Mathira MP Eric Wamumbi stands in Karatina Town on March 25, 2025, welcoming the President to the Mt. Kenya region.
Photo credit: Joseph Kanyi | Nation Media Group
Kirinyaga residents are also hoping that the President will deliver on his promise to improve the Mwea Rice Scheme through the construction of water canals.
"The President promised to improve the roads in Mwea Irrigation Scheme but nothing has been done, currently the roads are impassable and the President should offer solutions when he tours the region," said Senator Kamau Murango.
In Laikipia County, residents are hoping that the President's tour will bring to life a long-standing promise to tarmac the Nanyuki-Rumuruti road.
The upgrading of the 80-kilometre stretch has been a topic of discussion for nearly four decades, with politicians, including presidential aspirants, using it as a campaign issue during elections.
"The road serves a large population in Laikipia and this time the president should not repeat the many promises he has made to us in the past. Empty promises are what made some of his former ardent supporters lose faith in the Kenya Kwanza administration, but we still need government services," says Mr Jesse Wambugu (Abuhi), a former UDA youth leader and regional coordinator of the 2022 presidential campaigns.
President Ruto has made several promises on this crucial road linking Nanyuki town to the new county headquarters in Rumuruti, both when he was deputy president and at the height of his 2022 presidential campaign.
In 2022, the government announced that the road would cost Sh3.3 billion.
“I am optimistic that this time the president will reward the people of Laikipia with this crucial road that will ease the suffering of traders and commuters,” says Mr Kemei Ruto, a Rumuruti resident working with the county government.
In Meru, residents are calling on President William Ruto to order interventions on livestock, miraa and stalled projects.
Pastoralists and leaders in Meru County have stepped up calls for a security operation to recover thousands of cattle stolen by bandits in the past two years.
According to the Nyambene Livestock Farmers Cooperative Union, more than 6,000 cattle have been stolen in the past two years.
According to a report by pastoralists, about 45 people, including police reservists, were killed and 16 injured between 2022 and 2024.
In the latest incident, about 40 cattle were stolen in Igembe North.
"We are demanding a security operation to retrieve our cattle from Samburu. This is what the Meru people expect from the President," said former Igembe North MP Maore Maoka.
Last year, the pastoralists accused the Inspector General of Police, Douglas Kanja, of promising a security operation that never materialised.
Miraa farmers in Meru urge President Ruto to end cartel-like behaviour at JKIA
In the Miraa sub-sector, the farmers want the president to honour his 2022 promise to crack down on a cartel that collects millions every day at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
They also want the government to enforce the export prices announced by Agriculture CS Mutahi Kagwe.
Several road projects initiated by the previous government have stalled in Igembe North, Igembe South, Tigania West, Tigania East, Imenti North and Imenti Central constituencies.
In Tharaka Nithi, residents are demanding the completion of the 71-kilometre Chiakariga-Marimanti-Ura Gate Road, whose construction started in 2016.
The road, which was Deputy President Kithure Kindiki's pet project, has stalled at about 70 per cent completion.
By David Muchui, George Munene, Stephen Munyiri and Mwangi Ndirangu
