President Uhuru Kenyatta Thursday launched road construction projects worth more than Sh10 billion in Nandi and Uasin Gishu Counties on the first day of his three-day visit to the Rift Valley region.
The President also used his visit to the two counties to drum up support for the Jubilee Party, which enjoys overwhelming following in the region.
The Head of State also launched an attack on current government critics including opposition leaders who have been serving in previous governments for the colossal sums of taxpayer's money that was lost in previous years through inflated costs of constructing roads.
President Kenyatta said that whereas the Government used to dish out more than Sh100 million for the construction of a stretch of one kilometer of low density road, the Jubilee Government has managed to reduce the cost to Sh40 million.
"Those who are making noise about how the Government is managing resources are the same people who used to pay contractors more than Sh100 million to construct a one-kilometer road," said the President when he launched the construction of a 94 kilometer road at Maraba in Timderet Constiuency, Nandi County.
The road which will connect Timboroa, Mitetei, Songhor and Kopere road and another stretch connecting Kaiboi, Chepterwoi and Kipkaren River Junction will cost the Givernment Sh3.78 billion.
The President said it would have cost the Government more than Sh8 billion if the old rates were still being paid.
Earlier in the day, the President, who was accompanied by Deputy President William Ruto and local leaders, launched the upgrading of Kapkatembo -Lemok - Simat - Rivatex road at the cost of Sh3.7 billion.
The President later commissioned the Cheptiret-Baraton-Kimondi road at Kimondi Bridge before proceeding to Sironoi where he launched the upgrading to bitumen standards of Danger-Kimondi-Chemuswa road that was construct at a cost of Sh 3.2 billion.
President Kenyatta wrapped up the first day of his tour at Kesses where he launched the upgrading of the Cheptiret-Kesses-Lessos-/Himaki-Nandi Hills/Cheptiret-Moi Univerdity roads to bitumen standards.
The President said the improvement of the road network in the region will lead to economic growth by attracting investors and reducing the cost of transport for local producers.
"Kenyans are people who are ready to work but the cost of transport has always been creating loses," said the President.
During the development tour, the President and his deputy addressed several rallies where they drummed up support for the Jubilee Party.
At Maraba, President Kenyatta said the Jubilee Party is different from the other parties because it brings together Kenyans from all corners of the country and has an objective to unite all Kenyans for prosperity.
"Jubilee Party is focused on making Kenya a better country for all of us," said the President.
He described the leaders of CORD as selfish people who are obsessed with how they would benefit individually instead of putting the interest of Kenyans first.
"They are planning a tribal government and all you hear them talk about is what position will be held by whom," said the President.
He called on the residents of the region to continue supporting the Jubilee Party so that the Government can continue implementing its development projects.
The President also assured the residents that the country's top leadership will not impose leaders on the people.
He said it is the people who will have the final say in who gets Jubilee Party tickets for contesting for leadership positions.
The Deputy President said the people of Rift Valley voted for the Jubilee Government in 2013 because they trusted its leaders.
"This time the support for Jubilee is even stronger because the people can see that the Jubilee government has kept its pledges," said the DP.
He said the government will continue allocating more funds to improve the road network in the region to ease transportation of local produce.
By PSCU.