President William Ruto has revealed that the Chinese Director of the Office of Central Committee for Foreign Affairs Wang Yi questioned him about the destruction of the Nairobi Expressway during a meeting at State House.
Speaking on Saturday, July 23 in South Mugirango, Kisii County, Ruto said the Chinese official asked him whether they should continue helping Kenya to build roads despite the damages during protests.
“Leo asubuhi nimekua na mgeni kutoka China na aliniuliza, naona ile barabara tumewasaidia kujenga mnachoma. Sasa nyinyi mnataka tuendele kujenga hizi barabara ama hamtaki kwa sababu tunaona mnachoma expressway na barabara zingine,” said Ruto.
He added,”Sasa mtu akikuuliza maswali kama hayo unajibu namna gani? Mimi nitaenda kutafta hii kazi yote alafu naulizwa wewe unakuja kutafta pesa ya kuenda kujenga barabara ambayo itachomwa na wakora, si hiyo ni maswali ngumu?”
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His remarks come a week after Transport CS Kipchumba Murkomen revealed that Kenyans will have to pay over Ksh 700 million for the damage that was done on the Nairobi Expressway during the Azimio anti-government demonstrations.
Speaking on July 13 after visiting the Nairobi Expressway in Mlolongo, Machakos County to assess the damage that was done.
"The people who have been organizing this mass action have told the nation they are doing so because they want to fight the cost of living but the damage only done on the Expressway for that short period could be anything up to $5 million (Sh706 million)," said Murkomen.
On July 20, Murkomen defended the quotation saying the machines used in the Mlolongo toll station are expensive.
“Those machines for scanning cars, allowing cars to access the road, and ensuring how much each car pays, are not cheap. They are not like the cooking pots the protestors put on their head. Those are very expensive machines that will require the taxpayer to pay the Nairobi Expressway investors,” Murkomen stated.
