The Kenya Defence Forces soldiers during a past function.
Fourteen months to the 2027 general election, President William Ruto has deployed the military to oversee key infrastructural projects given strict delivery timelines – with an eye on the 2027 general election.
From 27 stadiums across the country to airports, hospitals, Nairobi River regeneration and bridges, the military is increasingly the “fixer” for mega projects, which President Ruto is leaning on as re-election vehicles in the next general election.
While the projects worth hundreds of billions have been awarded mostly to Chinese companies by various ministries, the military is charged with supervising them, ensuring the set delivery timelines are met and high-quality work, as contained in tender award documents, is adhered to.
It demonstrates the President’s lack of confidence in the various departments to complete the projects that he holds dear to his chest – and a key re-election campaign agenda.
In a clear demonstration of the strong belief in the military delivery precision of the projects, the 10,000-seater Wajir Stadium was delivered in just over 100 days, and was on display on Monday as it hosted the 63rd Madaraka Day celebrations.
The stadium that cost the taxpayers Sh900 million is the largest infrastructure facility in Northern Kenya implemented by Dr Ruto’s administration. A State Lodge was also constructed.
An exterior view of the under-construction 60,000-seater Raila Odinga Talanta Stadium in Nairobi.
The Sh50 billion Multi-Specialty Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County, with a 4,000-bed capacity is under supervision of the military.
Still, the Sh50 billion and the Nairobi River Regeneration project is also among those supervised by the KDF.
In addition, the Sh48 billion Talanta Stadium (renamed Raila Amollo Odinga International Stadium) in Nairobi, which has a 60-seater capacity, is a key sports infrastructure pillar of Dr Ruto’s administration.
The Sh42 billion Bomas International Convention Complex (BICC) in Nairobi, that will accommodate 11,000 people in what is billed as a key tourism attraction, is another project in the works.
Some of the projects implemented by the various ministries have overshot delivery timelines, with tens of billions having been sunk in them. Some of them have become white elephants as they have been abandoned – making the President turn to the military for supervision.
Defence Principal Secretary Patrick Mariru.
Mr Patrick Mariru, the Principal Secretary at the Ministry of Defence, confirmed that the KDF was involved in the implementation of transformative national projects.
“Under the leadership of the President, the military is supervising construction of water, health, roads and sports facilities on the journey to actualize the dream to take the country to the level of Singapore economically,” Dr Mariru said.
He noted that the government was leveraging on the KDF’s engineering ability and project management capabilities, thus their role in supervising and coordinating implementation of the mega projects.
“The military is involved in accelerated the development of flagship infrastructure projects to ensure efficient delivery, quality assurance, and adherence to the strict delivery timelines,” Dr Mariru said.
Wajir Stadium during the Makadara Day celebrations on June 1, 2026.
The Ministry of Defence (MOD), through the KDF, is working with other government departments, including ministries of Roads and Public Works, Health, Sports, Tourism and Wildlife, to implement the mega projects whose completion has direct political impact in the next general election.
Belgut MP Nelson Koech, the chairperson of the Defence Committee at the National Assembly, confirmed that President Ruto was leaning on the military to deliver some of his pet projects within the stipulated timelines in the tender documents.
Mr Koech said that some of the parent ministries under which the projects were anchored had failed to deliver in the past, hence the decision to turn to the KDF, an organisation known for its zero tolerance of corruption and mediocrity.
“Onboarding the projects is a direct indictment on the ministries that should have handled those projects. It shows that they are inefficient, underperforming, and require the support of the military to implement the mega projects” Mr Koech told Nation in an interview.
He said the country had the benefit of the military that has the requisite professional muscles to start and complete projects within the stipulated timelines, to the benefit of the people.
“In the current arrangement, the tenders are awarded by the line ministries, but the supervision is left to the projects. For clarity, the Ministry of Defence is not involved in budgeting and procurement, but only supervision of the projects,” Mr Koech said.
Mr Kipkirui Kemboi Kap Telwa, an advocate, said, “Clearly, President Ruto, faced with completion challenges of projects he promised voters before and after the 2022 general election, has chosen to trust the military with implementations of the infrastructure facilities worth hundreds of billions of shillings.”
“Dr Ruto seems to have lowered the trust he has on various government departments to deliver the projects in good time, and appears to have been pricked by poor workmanship and endemic corruption that has bedevilled the departments,” he said.
“Involving the military in the projects is noble, but we should be careful so as not to politicise the KDF, which has remained a serious professional outfit in the country and the African continent.”
The Bomas International Conference Centre (BICC) project sitting on a 12-acre land, and whose construction started on March 19, 2024, is expected to host high level local and international summits, conferences, and other global engagements – positioning Kenya as a key tourism hub.
It was initially meant to host the May 11-12 Africa Forward Summit. However, due to delays in completion of the Bomas project, the event was moved to the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC). The China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) company is implementing the Bomas project.
The Raila Odinga International Stadium (Talanta Sports City), is expected to be used in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations for football tournaments to be hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Kenya, in the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
It is under construction by the China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC), which is part of China Communication Construction Company (CCCC), a China government-backed company.
The project, which commenced on March 1, 2024, is expected to be delivered by July, and is implemented under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement by the Sports Arts Social Development Fund.
A recent report by Auditor-General Nancy Gathungu revealed that the project, which was initially billed at Sh45.85 billion, had been inflated by Sh10.85 billion.
Some of the projects that the KDF is overseeing in the construction of the Raila Odinga stadium include road networks, railway connection, water supply installations and an integrated security set up.
“In the next two months, we will complete and hand over the Talanta stadium project to the President in what demonstrates the seriousness the military gives to completion of projects in the country. It is the biggest stadium in East and Central Africa, and can only be compared with Manchester stadium in the United Kingdom,” Dr Mariru stated in Bomet.
“We are supervising 27 stadiums in the country. This has never happened in the history of this country…The government is leveraging on the KDF’s disciplined and professional implementation of infrastructure projects that will last for generations. The projects will give Kenya national pride and international visibility.”
The Sh50 billion Multi-Specialty Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu county, is under implementation in two phases. The first phase is the 2,000-bed capacity to be completed by April 2027, while the second phase of the project is another 2,000-bed wing to be constructed immediately after the completion of the first phase.
“It will be the largest hospital in Africa, and is expected to boost Kenya’s capacity for specialised treatment, training and referral services. Completion of the project will make Kenya a medical tourism hub in the African continent,” Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale said.
“This is a flagship investment by the government that will transform healthcare. It will be completed on time to enable Kenyans benefit from world class medical services as opposed to the current scenario where they travel abroad for treatment.”
KDF is leading a multi-agency team in the Sh50 billion Nairobi River Basin restoration charged with setting up a vibrant urban waterfront, integrated social housing projects, pedestrian walkways, cycle lanes, a new trunk sewer line, a water treatment plant, pedestrian bridges, modern landscaping and growing of flowers.
A multi-agency team involved in the project are teh Ministry of Defence, State Department for Housing, Nairobi County Government, Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company Limited, and Energy China (a Chinese company).
“The project will raise the workforce from the current 20,000 to 40,000, which has a direct impact on the economy and government’s efforts to alleviate poverty,” Dr Ruto said recently.
A ground breaking ceremony has been done at the Kipchamba Stadium in Bomet town, which will cost the taxpayers Sh950 million. This will also be supervised by the military and is set to be delivered within the next nine months.
“Let me make it clear that the military will ensure the project is completed in nine months. Mark my words, it would not be in the 10th month, but the ninth month. We are that serious with the implementation timelines,” Dr Maruri.
Kiprugut Chumo and Kapkatet stadiums in Kericho county are under construction along with Kabarnet, Nandi, Kisii, Nyamira, Afraha (Nakuru), Siaya, Lodwar, Kitale, Kipchoge Keino (Eldoret), Ol Kalou, Meru, Mavoko, Kilifi, Busia, Kakamega, Vihiga, Maua, Wajir and Mandera – all under KDF supervision.
The others are: Kabarnet University, Nyamira University, a hospital in Nandi, among others.
Construction of the Lokichogio Airport in Turkana County, at a cost of Sh200 million, is being supervised by the KDF. The project is expected to be a key plank in the infrastructural link between Kenya and neighbouring countries Uganda and South Sudan.
President Ruto also recently directed the military to construct a hospital in Narok South sub-county during a tour of Narok County.
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