Mombasa: For residents of Bureti, the value of a road is measured by the time it takes to move tea, milk, and other farm produce to market, while a reliable water supply can mean the difference between a growing trading centre and one struggling to keep pace with its population. That is why roads, water, electricity, education, trade, and sports have emerged as some of the key development priorities in Bureti Sub-county in Kericho, following President William Ruto’s development tour of the South Rift last week.
According to Kenya News Agency, the President’s recent visit brought several projects into focus, including the launch of the 34-kilometer Panda Pilis-Kampala-Bokoiyot-Mabasi road, commissioning of Kapkatet Modern Market, and launch of the Sh1.1 billion Kapkatet Stadium. The Panda Pilis-Kampala-Bokoiyot-Mabasi road, comprising an 18.6-kilometer Panda Pilis-Kampala section and a 15.4-kilometer Bokoiyot-Mabasi section, offers a combined length of 34 kilometres. It is among the projects with the clearest potential to change the movement of people and farm produce in the constituency.
The Sh3.08 billion road project is expected to open up farming areas, reduce the cost and time of transporting produce, and improve access to schools, health facilities, and administrative centres. At the time of inspection, the works were reported to be 11.5 per cent complete, with 1.2 kilometres already blacktopped. Connectivity is further enhanced by the Kapkatet-Boito-Kapset-Kaptien-Kapleleito-Kiptenden-Kapkoros-Kiplelji-Kapsimotwa-Kapkwen-Olbutyo-Siongiroi corridor, which stretches about 91 kilometres and is being upgraded to bitumen standard. This corridor links communities and markets across Kericho and Bomet counties, easing the movement of agricultural produce.
Water is another pressing priority. President Ruto announced that Sh1.6 billion had been secured for water projects serving Kapkatet and Litein, with a further Sh400 million allocated for Kericho town. Local reports indicated that the Kapkatet and Litein projects were expected to be launched in October. This investment comes as Bureti’s trading centres and settlements continue to expand, increasing demand for dependable water for households, schools, health facilities, and businesses. County planning documents have also identified several smaller water interventions in the constituency, including pipeline extensions and community water projects.
Electricity is also being extended closer to households under the Sh1.6 billion Last Mile Connectivity programme in Kericho County, targeting 16,000 households. Improved electricity access is expected to support homes, small businesses, and productive activities in rural areas, including Bureti. In Kapkatet, the new modern market is expected to provide more than 200 traders with a better working environment. The market is among those being developed in Kericho County to replace open-air trading spaces.
The Kapkatet Stadium, designed to accommodate 10,000 spectators, will have a six-lane athletics track and a standard football pitch. The facility is expected to provide a venue for sporting activities while creating space for young people to develop their talents. Grassroots sports have received attention with Kapkatet Football Club allocated Sh5 million to support the acquisition of a bus, alongside investment in the stadium.
Education remains another important part of the development agenda. Tengecha Boys Senior School and Tengecha Girls Senior School were each allocated Sh20 million, while their primary and junior sections were allocated Sh10 million each. Rungut Primary School was also allocated Sh5 million. These allocations aim to strengthen learning facilities and provide young people with better opportunities to progress through the education system.
For residents, the test will ultimately be on the ground: whether roads become passable in all seasons, whether water reaches homes and businesses, whether farmers find better markets for their produce, and whether young people can turn new sporting and education facilities into opportunities. With Bureti heavily dependent on agriculture and its trading centres continuing to grow, the road and water projects could have the widest economic impact. Better connectivity can bring farmers closer to markets, while reliable water and electricity can support businesses that depend on regular services. The development priorities, therefore, touch the ordinary activities that sustain the constituency’s farming, trading, learning, transport, and sports, making implementation the next critical step after the announcements and project launches.
