The government has announced plans to upgrade the Kyuso–Tseikuru Road in Kitui County, a key route leading to Tseikuru, the ancestral home of Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka.
The development follows the publication of a tender notice by the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA), inviting eligible contractors to bid for the strengthening and upgrading of the road to durable bitumen standards. According to the notice published on Tuesday, December 23, the project will be funded through Development Votes.
KeNHA stated that a mandatory pre-tender site visit has been scheduled for January 15, 2026, at Kandwia shopping centre, starting at 10am.
“The Authority hereby invites bids from eligible contractors for the following tenders to be funded through the Development Votes. There shall be a mandatory pretender site visit as specified,” KeNHA said in the notice.
“A complete set of tender documents may be obtained by interested tenderers from the Kenya National Highways Authority website or the Public Procurement Information Portal (PPIP).”
The announcement has been welcomed by residents of Kitui, who for years have struggled with poor road infrastructure that hampers access to essential services such as healthcare, education and markets. During rainy seasons, the road often becomes muddy and impassable, while dry periods leave it dusty and difficult to navigate.
Ongoing road construction works along a major highway in Kenya.
Photo: Titany Senior
However, the timing of the project has sparked political debate, with some Kenyans speculating that the move could be aimed at warming relations with the Wiper Party leader amid shifting political alliances.
The tender notice comes shortly after a public exchange between President William Ruto and Kalonzo Musyoka over the state of the Kyuso–Tseikuru Road. On December 15, President Ruto criticised Kalonzo’s long political career, questioning why the road had not been upgraded despite Kalonzo having served as Vice President during former President Mwai Kibaki’s administration.
“I heard one of them say I’ve been laying roads while in government. He even corrected me, saying he served for 40 years, not 50. My question is, how many years does he need to do a single project?” Ruto said.
“Clearly, these issues are beyond his understanding. How do you campaign for development when the road to your own home is still dusty?”
In response, Kalonzo accused the President of focusing his political attacks on him instead of prioritising national development. The former Vice President maintained that during his decades in public service, he oversaw several major infrastructure projects in Kitui County and the wider region.
While the government has framed the Kyuso–Tseikuru Road upgrade as part of its broader national infrastructure agenda, the project has now taken on added political significance, highlighting the intersection of development, legacy and contemporary power dynamics in Kenya’s politics.
