Kenya is beefing up security on the Isiolo-Mandera Road after contractors started sweating about threats. Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen promised better protection for workers building the strategic corridor through areas with sketchy security histories. He called the project transformative for national unity and balanced growth, stressing gateway infrastructure matters for cohesion and fairness across the country.
Murkomen said the road drives both development and security in northern Kenya, and President William Ruto expects completion soon. Security backup will cover all major projects in volatile zones, not just this one route. The government rolled out a multi-agency plan that coordinates different state agencies to lock down the project corridor.
He told contractors to stick to security protocols and not give enemies openings to mess with construction. Murkomen met with Defence Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya and Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir to hammer out a joint strategy for protecting the work and speeding things up. Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo, Defence PS Patrick Mariru, and Roads PS Joseph Mbugua joined the talks.
The Isiolo-Mandera Road stretches 740 to 750 kilometers as part of the Horn of Africa Gateway Development push. The route links northern Kenya to Ethiopia and Somalia, boosting cross-border trade and cutting travel times while improving access to services across Isiolo, Meru, Wajir, Garissa, and Mandera counties. Multiple contractors split the work into sections that include fiber-optic cable installation, new bridges, and urban road upgrades in major towns. Earthworks and asphalt are already rolling, with completion targeted for 2027.
Murkomen said the road drives both development and security in northern Kenya, and President William Ruto expects completion soon. Security backup will cover all major projects in volatile zones, not just this one route. The government rolled out a multi-agency plan that coordinates different state agencies to lock down the project corridor.
He told contractors to stick to security protocols and not give enemies openings to mess with construction. Murkomen met with Defence Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya and Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir to hammer out a joint strategy for protecting the work and speeding things up. Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo, Defence PS Patrick Mariru, and Roads PS Joseph Mbugua joined the talks.
The Isiolo-Mandera Road stretches 740 to 750 kilometers as part of the Horn of Africa Gateway Development push. The route links northern Kenya to Ethiopia and Somalia, boosting cross-border trade and cutting travel times while improving access to services across Isiolo, Meru, Wajir, Garissa, and Mandera counties. Multiple contractors split the work into sections that include fiber-optic cable installation, new bridges, and urban road upgrades in major towns. Earthworks and asphalt are already rolling, with completion targeted for 2027.
