Kindiki Unveils Sh500 Million Road and Water Projects as Government Steps Up Development Drive in Machakos

 Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has reaffirmed the government's commitment to equitable development across Kenya, saying the surest way to achieve lasting national unity is by ensuring that all regions receive government services fairly and without discrimination.

Speaking during a public sensitisation forum at Kithimani in Yatta Constituency, Kindiki said the government was implementing a broad development agenda focused on improving road infrastructure, expanding access to water and irrigation, and strengthening markets for farmers across the country.

The Deputy President said the government's nationwide road construction programme, which covers approximately 6,000 kilometres, includes significant projects in Machakos County.

According to Kindiki, 517 kilometres of roads are being constructed in Machakos County, with residents of Yatta Constituency set to benefit from major road projects aimed at improving connectivity and opening up the area for economic development.

Among the key projects highlighted were the 40-kilometre Matuu–Ikombe–Katangi Road and the 44-kilometre Matuu–Ekalakala Road, both located within Yatta Constituency.

Kindiki said improved road networks would play a critical role in connecting rural communities to markets, health facilities, schools and other essential services while also reducing transportation costs for farmers and traders.

He linked the infrastructure programme to the government's broader strategy of promoting balanced development and ensuring that communities across the country benefit from public investment.

"The sure way of forging lasting national unity lies in the commitment to ensure that all parts of Kenya receive Government services equally and unconditionally," Kindiki said.

The Deputy President also highlighted the government's investment in fresh produce markets, saying 600 markets are being constructed across the country as part of efforts to improve agricultural value chains and provide farmers with reliable spaces to sell their produce.

Machakos County is set to benefit from 17 of the markets, with Kithimani and Katangi markets currently under construction in Yatta Constituency.

The markets are expected to provide farmers and traders with improved facilities while helping to reduce post-harvest losses and enhance access to local and regional markets.

Kindiki said the government's investment in market infrastructure was aimed at supporting small-scale farmers and traders by creating an enabling environment for them to earn better incomes from their economic activities.

The Deputy President further pointed to ongoing water and irrigation projects as key components of the government's development agenda in the region.

He cited the Sh800 million NYS–Matuu–Kitui Water Project, the Sh150 million Kisiiki Irrigation Project and the prioritised Yatta Dam Project as among the initiatives being pursued to improve water access and support agricultural production.

The projects, he said, form part of a nationwide government agenda focused on expanding water services, strengthening food production and improving the livelihoods of communities.

The NYS–Matuu–Kitui water project is expected to contribute to improved water supply in the area, while irrigation investments are aimed at helping farmers reduce reliance on rainfall and increase agricultural productivity.

Kindiki said the prioritisation of the Yatta Dam Project would further support the government's efforts to address water challenges in the semi-arid region and create opportunities for enhanced agricultural activities.

The Deputy President was speaking while updating residents on the progress of various development programmes and projects being implemented in Yatta Constituency.

The public sensitisation forum provided an opportunity for residents to receive updates on government projects while also engaging leaders on issues affecting the constituency.

Kindiki was accompanied by Lands Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome, Principal Secretary Nixon Korir, Yatta MP Robert Basil, Masinga MP Joshua Mwalyo, Members of the County Assembly and other leaders.

Local residents also attended the forum, where development projects and the government's broader transformation agenda formed a key part of discussions.

The Deputy President said the government's approach to development was based on the principle that every Kenyan, regardless of their location, should have access to essential public services and infrastructure.

He said equitable distribution of development resources was critical to strengthening national cohesion and ensuring that no region feels excluded from the country's economic transformation.

Kindiki's remarks come as the government continues to highlight infrastructure, water, agriculture and market development as key pillars of its development agenda.

The Deputy President said the ongoing projects in Machakos demonstrate the government's commitment to investing in infrastructure and essential services outside major urban centres.

He emphasised that road connectivity, water availability and market infrastructure must be developed simultaneously to unlock the economic potential of rural communities.

For residents of Yatta, the road projects are expected to improve movement between various parts of the constituency and neighbouring areas, while the water and irrigation initiatives could provide a boost to agriculture, which remains a major economic activity for many households.

The fresh produce markets are also expected to strengthen the link between farmers and consumers by providing structured spaces for the sale of agricultural products.

Kindiki said the government's development agenda would continue to focus on projects that have a direct impact on the lives of ordinary Kenyans.

He maintained that national unity cannot be achieved through political rhetoric alone, arguing that citizens are more likely to feel included in the country when they see tangible government services and development projects in their communities.

The Deputy President's visit to Yatta comes at a time when the government is intensifying efforts to showcase its development programmes across the country, with infrastructure and water projects taking centre stage.

He assured residents that the government would continue working to ensure that development projects are implemented across all regions of Kenya based on the needs of communities.

Kindiki said the objective was to create an inclusive development model in which roads, water, markets and other essential services reach communities regardless of their geographical location.

The Deputy President's message was echoed by the presence of senior government officials and elected leaders, who joined residents in reviewing the progress of projects in Yatta and the wider Machakos County.

With hundreds of kilometres of roads under construction, new markets being developed and major water and irrigation projects being prioritised, the government is seeking to position infrastructure and access to essential services at the centre of its development and national unity agenda.

For Yatta residents, the focus now shifts to the completion and operationalisation of the announced projects, with communities keen to see the promised infrastructure translate into improved transport, reliable water supplies, increased agricultural production and better market access.

Kindiki reiterated that the government's commitment to equitable development would remain central to its efforts to unite the country and drive Kenya's transformation.

"National unity is strengthened when every Kenyan can see and feel the benefits of government," the Deputy President's message underscored, as the government continues to push its development agenda across the country.