Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary General Francis Atwoli has lauded President William Ruto for initiating transformative infrastructure projects that previous administrations avoided.

Speaking at Chavakali Boys in Vihiga County on May 1, 2026, during Labour Day celebrations, Atwoli expressed deep appreciation for the current government’s ambitious development agenda, which he claims is already reshaping the nation’s landscape.

“On behalf of Kenyan workers, allow me, your excellency, to thank you for your boldness. You are a bold president. You are very bold to have come up with projects that most of the presidents shied away from,” Atwoli said.

Transformative housing and infrastructure

Atwoli referred to the Affordable Housing project as a flagship initiative that has changed the face of the Republic of Kenya.

He noted that the impact of these developments is visible across the country, citing the “unimaginable” changes seen in various towns across the country.

“One, your excellency, is Affordable Housing, which has changed the face of the Republic of Kenya. You go everywhere; you land in Kisumu is unimaginable,” Atwoli noted.

In addition to the housing projects, Atwoli praised the president’s commitment to massive transport infrastructure, specifically referencing the road work currently underway from the Rironi to the Malaba border.

“The other one is that you have embarked on making sure that from Rironi up to Malaba, and as you have been requested, it will be so good also to have a radio station at Luanda, and we support that. That will be a wonderful project on the SGR side and on the new express highway that you are now working on,” Atwoli said.

Inside Ruto’s Mau Summit–Malaba road

The Kenyan government began the upgrade of the Mau Summit–Eldoret–Malaba road under a public-private partnership (PPP).

The project aims to improve a key section of the Northern Corridor, a vital route that connects Kenya to Uganda and facilitates trade across East and Central Africa.

The National Treasury’s Public Private Partnerships Directorate, in collaboration with the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), started the process with a pre-feasibility study. Officials held a kick-off meeting on February 3, 2026.

A joint venture between CPCS from Canada and Avatech Engineering from Kenya will conduct the study over the next four months, funded by AIIB. The consultants will examine technical, economic, environmental, and financial aspects of the road. Their findings will guide the project’s structure and prepare for subsequent phases.

Kenya also received a USD 3.15 million (Ksh407 million) grant from the Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) to support the project. Approved during an MCDF Governing Committee meeting in Beijing on November 25, 2025, the funding will help prepare a comprehensive feasibility study for the 243-kilometre road.