Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, Laikipia Woman Rep Jane Kagiri, Defence PS Patrick Mariru and an administrator inspect works on Ol Moran road, Oct 26, 2026.

Deputy President Kithure Kindiki on Monday extended his Mt Kenya tour to Laikipia, rallying residents to back President William Ruto’s re-election bid in 2027.

Kindiki challenged the Rigathi Gachagua-led opposition to account for its development record instead of relying on insults and political rhetoric to win public support.

The Deputy President, who was accompanied by Laikipia Woman Representative Jane Kagiri and Defence Principal Secretary Patrick Mariru, said voters should demand clear development plans from politicians seeking their support.

“If someone comes here, insist that they talk about policies. Do not allow them to begin with insults,” Kindiki said.

He challenged opposition leaders to explain which roads they had built, water projects they had championed and households they had connected to electricity while in office.

The Deputy President also warned contractors and public officials against delaying government projects, saying he would return to inspect the progress of road construction.

“There are two important roads. The first is the road connecting Rumuruti to Nanyuki. Construction has started, but I am told that the contractor is lazy,” he said.

“If you see that contractor, tell him that the fireman is on the way. I will return next week with the Government’s whip.”

Kindiki said the government would not tolerate contractors who failed to deliver projects intended to improve livelihoods and strengthen the economy.

He inspected the newly constructed Mahiga-Ol Moran road, which residents and local leaders requested during Ruto’s visit to Laikipia on May 8, 2026.

The road is part of a wider programme to construct hundreds of kilometres of roads across the county.

Kindiki said the government had prioritised 577 kilometres of roads at a cost of Sh28 billion, adding that the target would be increased to 1,000 kilometres and the allocation raised to Sh50 billion.

He directed the Kenya Rural Roads Authority to strengthen supervision and accelerate construction of the 58-kilometre Nanyuki-Dol Dol-Naibor road and the 30-kilometre Rumuruti-Mutara road.

The contracts for the two roads were awarded about two months ago.

The Deputy President also announced plans to increase electricity connectivity funding in Laikipia from Sh473 million to Sh1 billion, targeting 10,000 households.

The initial programme was expected to connect an additional 4,200 households.

He said the government was also constructing more than 15 modern markets in the county, including six Economic Stimulus Programme markets in Laikipia West.

Kindiki further said Laikipia had been included in the government’s planned water infrastructure programme under the National Infrastructure Fund, which targets 50 large dams, 200 medium-sized dams and 1,000 micro-dams nationally.

The Deputy President used the visit to highlight improved security in Laikipia West, where banditry and livestock theft previously disrupted farming, schooling and businesses.

He commissioned the Kirima Police Division headquarters and Ol Moran Police Station, constructed at a cost of Sh21 million.

Kindiki, a former Interior Cabinet Secretary, credited security agencies, the military, police reservists and civilian informants with restoring calm to the area.

He said no bandit attacks had occurred in Laikipia West in the past three years.

“When we took office, Ol Moran was impassable and uninhabitable. The area was burning because of banditry, livestock theft and attacks by armed criminals,” he said.

Kindiki recalled making 21 visits to the area while serving as Interior Cabinet Secretary, including trips to forests to plan security operations with police and military officers.

He said the government had also rebuilt 20 schools in Laikipia through the Kenya Defence Forces, with another 10 planned.

The restoration of security, he said, had enabled farmers and traders to return to their livelihoods and children to resume learning.

Kindiki urged residents to maintain peace ahead of the 2027 General Election, warning politicians against using campaigns to incite violence.

“The election will be conducted in just one day. Once we have voted, we will remain one country, one people, one nation and one Laikipia,” he said.

Laikipia has slightly more than 288,000 registered voters, making it a significant constituency in the wider Mt Kenya political contest.

The visit comes as Kindiki steps up engagements across the region in efforts to consolidate support for Ruto ahead of the next election.

Laikipia North MP Sarah Korere and Laikipia East MP Mwangi Kiunjuri sent apologies for their absence during the Deputy President’s tour.