Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse with Kikuyu MP and the National Assembly Majority leader Kimani Ichungwa and other leaders during the Launch of the Emali - Ukia road on October 7, 2025. Photo by Andrew Mbuva. 
By Andrew Mbuva and S. Kioko
Decades-old promises finally fulfilled as National Government begins tarmacking of Emali–Ukia and Kangundo–Mwala roads
Two of the most historically significant but long-neglected roads in Machakos and Makueni counties — the Emali–Ukia Road and the Kangundo– Mwala Road — are finally being constructed, marking a major milestone in infrastructure development for the lower Eastern region.
The long-awaited projects, which have lingered in political pledges since independence, are now officially underway following persistent lobbying by Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse and Kangundo MP Fabian Kyule.
On Tuesday, Mutuse presided over the launch of the Emali–Ukia Road project, an event graced by National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah as the chief guest.
“History has been made. Emali–Ukia Road is now a reality,” declared Mutuse during the ceremony. “The first phase will see 20 kilometers of road tarmacked up to slightly past Matiliku Town at a cost of Ksh 1.1 billion.”
Mutuse revealed that President William Ruto is expected to officially launch the project shortly after the Mashujaa Day celebrations scheduled for October 20 in Kitui Town.
“The President has assured us that he will personally come to launch the road while construction is ongoing. To President Ruto, the people of Kibwezi, Makueni, and Kenya will eternally be grateful for this project,” Mutuse added.
Ichung’wah commended the government’s commitment to accelerating infrastructure development in the region, noting that the project will transform connectivity and boost economic growth.
“We commissioned the construction of the Emali–Ukia Road to bitumen standard. Upon completion, the road will improve transport efficiency and trade across the region — opening up opportunities for farmers, traders, and residents, and ensuring easier access to markets, schools, and health facilities,” said Ichung’wah.
Meanwhile, in neighbouring Machakos County, plans for the Kangundo–Mwala Road groundbreaking ceremony — initially slated for Wednesday — were postponed by the MP, Fabian Kyule.
In a communique to residents, Kyule, who also leads the Grand Dreams Development Party (GDDP), announced that the event would be rescheduled to allow the contractor to first complete initial work on the ground.
“We have heard the valuable feedback from our citizens and decided to give TAK-BIR Construction Company time to complete the initial half-kilometer of the project,” the statement read. “We will now hold a ‘Groundbreaking Showing Progress’ event once this milestone is achieved, ensuring that when we celebrate, we are marking a project with tangible, ongoing results.”
He thanked President Ruto for fulfilling a promise that had eluded the region for generations.
The simultaneous launch of these two major road projects signals a new chapter for both Machakos and Makueni counties, unlocking long-awaited infrastructure that is expected to stimulate trade, attract investment, and reshape the political landscape ahead of the 2027 General Election.
