Govt deploys KDF, police to secure Isiolo-Modogashe-Mandera highway project

President Ruto pictured during an inspection of the Isiolo-Modogashe road project. [PCS]

The government has deployed additional police units and the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) to secure the construction of the 740-kilometre Isiolo–Mandera highway, a flagship project set to transform northern Kenya.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen confirmed the move after a joint security and infrastructure meeting with Defence CS Soipan Tuya and Roads CS Davis Chirchir, aimed at ensuring uninterrupted construction.

Murkomen said the heightened security is necessary due to persistent regional threats.

“The protection of workers, equipment, and contractors is a priority for the government,” he said, noting that a comprehensive security framework has been developed to coordinate between agencies and construction teams.

The construction of the Isiolo–Mandera Regional Road Corridor, being implemented under the Horn of Africa Gateway Development Project, is of critical importance in opening up northern Kenya, enhancing regional trade, strengthening connectivity, and improving security.

The… pic.twitter.com/rUAeIfwIlW

— KIPCHUMBA MURKOMEN, E.G.H (@kipmurkomen) January 19, 2026

“The president expects to complete this project as a whole government approach in the shortest time possible and within the set timelines. Part of the enablers for national development is national security, and CS Soipan has this responsibility,” he added.

The Isiolo–Mandera highway is part of the Lamu Port–South Sudan–Ethiopia Transport (LAPSSET) Corridor, a regional initiative to enhance connectivity between Kenya, Ethiopia, and South Sudan.

Once completed, the road is expected to boost trade, improve mobility, and unlock economic opportunities in historically marginalised areas.

The World Bank’s International Development Association has released Sh81 billion to kick-start construction, with total costs estimated at Sh100 billion.

The project, managed by the Kenya National Highways Authority under the Horn of Africa Gateway Development Project, spans 11 sections from Isiolo through Kula Mawe, Modogashe, Samatar, Wajir, Tarbaj, Kotulo, Kobo, Elwak, Garre, and Rhamu to Mandera—the longest single-road project ever undertaken in Kenya.

The Isiolo–Modogashe stretch gained viral popularity after President William Ruto recited Northern Kenya’s geography, with the phrase "iteremke Modogashe" sparking TikTok challenges, memes, and remixes.

While humorous, the moment spotlighted a region historically overlooked in national infrastructure planning.

Beyond the internet fame, the road is strategically vital, replacing treacherous dirt tracks with a high-speed bitumen highway and parallel fibre-optic backbone.

The government remains optimistic that it will become a major development milestone and key economic lifeline for northern Kenya.