Residents of Rusinga Island marked a historic moment on Wednesday as the Kenya Urban Roads Authority declared the 19-kilometre Rusinga Ring Road complete, delivering the island’s first-ever stretch of tarmac.
The fully paved loop connects villages, beaches, markets, schools and key sites including the Tom Mboya Mausoleum while linking the island more efficiently to the mainland through the Mbita causeway.
Speaking during an inspection visit, Deputy Chief of Staff for Delivery and Government Efficiency Eliud Owalo described the project as a game changer for the Lake Victoria community.
“Movement will be easier, trade will grow and tourism will flourish,” he said. “With beautiful beaches, rich fishing grounds and proximity to Ruma National Park, Rusinga now has the infrastructure to become a leading destination.”
President William Ruto had launched construction in August 2024. Government funding enabled KURA to finish the road months ahead of schedule, with the authority confirming full completion by December 2025.
Local leaders say the road ends decades of isolation. Fisherfolk can now reach markets faster, children face shorter journeys to school and investors are already eyeing beachfront hotel projects. The improved connectivity is expected to create hundreds of direct and indirect jobs.
The ring road also complements ongoing work by Homa Bay County under the Kenya Informal Settlement Improvement Scheme, which is upgrading housing, drainage and street lighting across the island.
Community members gathered along the new blacktop on Wednesday, many riding bicycles or walking the smooth surface for the first time.
Transport costs between Rusinga and Homa Bay town have already fallen by nearly half, according to early reports from matatu operators. Tourism operators predict visitor numbers will double within a year now that the island finally enjoys the same paved access as better-known regional destinations.
