Deputy President Kithure Kindiki on Thursday announced a wave of government projects in Meru County, unveiling multi-billion shilling road, electricity and health programmes in what analysts view as a renewed push to consolidate political support in the Mt Kenya East region ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Speaking during a public meeting in Kianjai in Tigania West Constituency, Kindiki said the government had embarked on road construction projects across all the nine constituencies of the county at a cost of Sh39.5 billion.
He said an additional Sh3.7 billion had been secured to upgrade key roads within Meru Town as the municipality seeks to attain city status.
The Deputy President also said last-mile electricity connectivity projects worth Sh2.3 billion are underway and will connect an additional 27,000 households across the county.
On healthcare, Kindiki said about 620,000 residents in Meru have already registered under the government’s universal health programme, Taifa Care, out of the county’s estimated population of 1.35 million.
Nationwide, he said, about 30 million Kenyans have enrolled in the programme.
The Deputy President said the meeting was meant to sensitise residents on the progress of government programmes and projects being implemented in the region.
The event was attended by several local leaders including John Mutunga, the Tigania West MP, Mpuru Aburi of Tigania East, Dan Kiili of Igembe Central and Linda Kiome, the Deputy Governor of Meru County.
The latest development tour comes at a time when the Kenya Kwanza administration is under pressure to demonstrate tangible results from its development agenda amid growing political realignments in the Mt Kenya region.
The region has experienced shifting alliances since the fallout between President William Ruto and his former deputy Rigathi Gachagua, which exposed divisions among leaders from the vote-rich bloc.
Meru politics has also remained fluid following the impeachment of former governor Kawira Mwangaza, with national leaders increasingly making frequent visits to consolidate support.
Political analysts say the rollout of infrastructure and social programmes could help the government rebuild goodwill among voters in the region, which played a critical role in President Ruto’s victory in the 2022 elections.
With the next General Election just over a year away, leaders allied to the government have intensified grassroots engagements, often combining project launches with political messaging aimed at strengthening their support base.
