The military has been called out of the barracks to secure President William Ruto’s legacy project, signaling a new era where development is delivered at the barrel of a gun.

In a decisive move to bypass the banditry and terror threats crippling Northern Kenya, the government has deployed Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) units to protect the construction of the Ksh 100 billion Isiolo-Mandera highway. The 740km corridor is not just a road; it is the economic artery intended to integrate the marginalized North into the national grid.

The "Enemies of Development"

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen did not mince words, labeling those sabotaging the project as "enemies of the state." The deployment follows intelligence reports of targeted attacks by Al-Shabaab sympathizers and local militia aiming to extort contractors.

"We cannot allow a few criminals to hold the development of millions hostage," Murkomen stated during a crisis meeting with Defence CS Soipan Tuya. "This road will be built, whether by the pen or the sword."

Project Specifications

• Scope: 740km of tarmac linking Isiolo, Wajir, and Mandera.
• Cost: Ksh 100 Billion ($750 million), funded by the World Bank and the state.
• Timeline: Strict completion deadline of June 2027, just months before the General Election.
• Strategy: A "Whole of Government" approach, merging the Ministry of Transport with the machinery of the Ministry of Defence.

Militarizing the Economy?

While residents welcome the security, civil society groups are raising red flags over the increasing militarization of civilian projects. From refurbishing the Uhuru Park to running the Kenya Meat Commission, the KDF’s footprint in the economy is expanding.

Critics argue this points to a failure of the National Police Service. If the police cannot secure a road contractor, how can they secure the citizenry? Yet, for the people of Mandera, who have waited 60 years for a tarmac road, the color of the uniform protecting the bulldozer matters less than the road itself. The President has staked his 2027 re-election bid on this tarmac, and he is taking no prisoners.