September 13, 2022, was the beginning of a new era of Government headed by President William Ruto and marked the end of that of his predecessor, former Head of State Uhuru Kenyatta.
Towards the end of his era, there was a mad rush to complete projects the fourth President had started during his tenure in an attempt to secure his legacy. They included the completion of the Green Park Terminus, Uhuru Park uplift and a slate of road projects.
The regime was, however, unlucky in some of the projects that were nearing completion by the time he exited the stage.
Here are six projects that neared the finish line at the time Uhuru Kenyatta signed out of the State House;
- Uhuru Park
For months, the Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) carried out construction work to revamp and facelift Uhuru part through the introduction of sculpted wild animals, a waterfall and shiny newly crafted main entrance.
The revamped park also spots a well kept lush green garden with well paved cabro walkways and properly fitted sitting areas.
In mid-September, State House announced that it was determined to beat the swearing-in deadline by launching the project on the eve of the event.
"It is notified for General information of the Public that there will be a Fireworks Extravaganza in Uhuru Park between 7-8pm on 12th Monday in celebration of Commissioning of Uhuru & Central Park.
“Members of the public are advised to anticipate and enjoy the display," read a notice from NMS,” read a statement from the now-defunct NMS at the time.
The project was, however, not launched at the time with no clear strategy for launch from the current regime.
- Green Park Terminus
After Johnson Sakaja took over the reins as Nairobi Governor, he earmarked Green Park Terminus among projects he intended to make operational within his first 100 days. Which he did.
The Governor noted that the terminus will be used for long distance buses destined for towns in Western Kenya.
The project was, however, a brainchild of NMS formed under Uhuru Kenyatta’s regime with the aim of decongesting the city. It was aimed at handling public service vehicles that have stages along Haile Selassie Avenue and a few from downtown Nairobi.
After several failed test runs, the park faced numerous challenges and remained largely unoccupied until the Ruto regime took over.
- Affordable Housing
When former President Uhuru Kenyatta assumed power in 2013, part of his 4-point agenda was delivering up to 500,000 affordable housing units to ease pressure on the housing market across the country.
Intermittently, the head of state launched a number of completed units including in Kasarani, Ngara and at Habitat Heights at Lukenya in Machakos County among others.
By the time of his exit, the state was several units away from achieving the promise but a number of the projects were nearing completion when Ruto took over the reins.
At the beginning of December, President William Ruto launched a total of 5,300 housing units in Mavoko - a Ksh20 million partnership between the National Government and Machakos County Government. Other units are in the pipeline for a launch.
- Thiba Dam
As part of his agenda to improve food production, former President Uhuru Kenyatta launched the construction of Thiba Dam to aid in the irrigation of large tracts of land for food production and provide water for use by the neighbouring communities.
Launched in November 2017, the project was aimed to support over 180,000 households involved in farming activities as well as the popular Mwea Irrigation Scheme.
The construction exercise was completed by May 2022 but until his departure from office, the project had not been formally launched until President William Ruto made the launch in mid-October - a month after he took over the address at the house on the Hill.
- Visa Free to South Africa
On Wednesday, November 9, President William Ruto inked a deal with his South African counterpart lifting visa requirements for citizens between the two countries.
"From January 1, 2023, we will have a different regime thanks to your personal intervention in this matter and the wealth of experience that has been brought on board by your officials
"Kenyans holding ordinary passports will be allowed to enter South Africa on a visa-free regime of up to 90 days per calendar year," Ruto announced at the time.
Negotiations to ease visa requirements between the two countries had, however, kicked off while Uhuru was in power. In December 2018, only business people and academics traveling to South Africa were issued multiple-entry visas valid for up to 10 years after initial negotiations.
