Muli Reignites Kitui Roads Debate, Accuses Leaders of Elite Politics

The debate over Kitui County’s poor road network shows no signs of abating.

Although the recent war of words between President William Ruto and Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has since cooled, fresh remarks by National Liberal Party (NLP) leader Dr Augustus Kyalo Muli threaten to reignite the controversy.

Dr Muli has dismissed the proposed construction of the Kyuso–Tseikuru–Kandua road, terming it a politically choreographed project rather than a genuine development initiative.

He faulted some leaders for what he described as a relentless pursuit of political advantage at the expense of residents’ real needs.

“We are aware that even if the road is eventually built, it will largely serve elite interests instead of addressing the long-standing hardships faced by the people of Kitui County and the wider Lower Eastern region,” Muli said.

The road project was advertised in the local dailies on Tuesday, coming barely a week after a public war of words between President William Ruto and Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, during which the Head of State accused Musyoka of failing to deliver development in his home region despite serving in government for over 40 years.

During the spat, the President accused Kalonzo of failing to deliver meaningful development in his home region despite having served in government for more than four decades.

Addressing supporters who thronged his Kitui residence during the Christmas period, Dr Muli accused both President Ruto and the former Vice President of engaging in what he termed “politics of optics” — efforts aimed at scoring political points rather than delivering people-centred development.

He argued that while infrastructure development remains important, successive governments have turned road projects into political tools, often overlooking more pressing challenges such as chronic water shortages, drought and food insecurity.

ligadwah@businessdayafrica.org