North Eastern roads crisis: Viral video exposes infrastructure gap

A video circulating on social media has brought the infrastructure challenges of North Eastern Kenya back into sharp focus. The footage contrasts local leaders flying into the region for a presidential visit while residents struggle to navigate nearly impassable roads.

The undated clip, shared by user Abdihakim Keinan, captures a juxtaposition of North Eastern leaders flying to meet President Ruto on a recent development tour. While the leadership arrived by air, further segments of the video show public service buses deeply mired in mud. These vehicles, filled with constituents, are seen negotiating battered terrain through thickets and waterlogged expanses.

The timing of the video coincides with President Ruto's recent tour of Northern Kenya, where he was accompanied by several high-ranking officials. The delegation included Governors Mohamed Adan Khalif of Mandera, Ahmed Abdullahi of Wajir, and Mohamud Mohamed of Marsabit. Also present were Cabinet Secretaries Aden Duale and Geoffrey Ruku, along with various regional legislators.

The imagery has prompted renewed scrutiny regarding the allocation of development funds for the region. Public discourse on platforms like X has focused on the significant sums reportedly funneled to North Eastern infrastructure over the years. Critics argue that despite these investments, the reality for commuters remains one of treacherous, unpaved routes that are easily disrupted by weather.

President Ruto, during his visit to Mandera, pledged to end what he described as 60 years of neglect for the region. He emphasized that his administration would prioritize connecting residents to electricity and investing in large-scale transport infrastructure. Among the specific promises was the construction of an airport in Mandera to improve regional connectivity.

However, the viral footage suggests a gap between these long-term infrastructure goals and the immediate reality for road users. For many in the expansive region, travel continues to rely on heavy-duty buses that must contend with jagged roads and stormy conditions. The contrast between the leaders’ seamless arrival and the residents' arduous journeys has become a focal point for those calling for accelerated road bitumenization.

The Ministry of Roads and Transport recently noted that it is working to complete ongoing road projects before initiating new ones. In the second quarter of the 2025/2026 financial year, the ministry reported the construction of 177 kilometers of new blacktop roads across the country. Whether these improvements will soon reach the specific corridors shown in the viral video remains a matter of local concern.

For now, the visual evidence of buses struggling through deep mud serves as a reminder of the logistical hurdles facing North Eastern Kenya. As the government ramps up its outreach to the region, the demand for reliable, all-weather road networks continues to dominate the local agenda.