Former Roots Party running mate Justina Wamae has accused President Ruto of repeatedly commissioning road projects on television before work is complete, warning that unfulfilled promises risk becoming his political downfall.
Wamae fires back after State of the Nation address
Wamae’s criticism came less than 24 hours after President Ruto delivered his third State of the Nation Address on 20 November 2025, where he announced plans to dual 21 major highways in the coming years.
The president said the upgrading of the 170-kilometre Rironi-Naivasha-Nakuru-Mau Summit road would begin next week, describing it as the first of the 21 projects.
“Your Waterloo”
In a post on X on 21 November 2025, Wamae told the president: “Promising Kenyans you will dual 21 roads then you fail to do so, will be your Waterloo an addition to the numerous list why your journey to Sugoi is unstoppable.”
Sugoi is President Ruto’s rural home in Uasin Gishu county, a reference often used by critics to suggest an early retirement from politics.
Finish first, launch later
Wamae urged the government to complete roads fully – including lights, zebra crossings, footbridges, cycle lanes and pedestrian walkways – before any televised commissioning.
“How about completing the roads,” she wrote. “Basically, you should not commission or launch the roads/project on national TV before work begins, but rather be decommissioned and opened when the road/project is complete.”
Growing public frustration
Many Kenyans share Wamae’s frustration with infrastructure projects that are launched with fanfare only to drag on for years amid delays and allegations of corruption.
While some highway sections have been finished under the current administration, motorists frequently complain about potholed diversion roads and incomplete interchanges on routes already declared “commissioned”.
With elections still years away, delivery on infrastructure remains one of the biggest tests for President Ruto government.
