With less than a year before the next election, it is reasonable to assume that President Uhuru Kenyatta is nearing the end of his presidency, and the legacy he leaves behind will outlast his term in August 2022. When he and his Deputy President took the oath of office in 2013, the Head of State campaigned on the edge of the Big Four agenda, promising Universal Health Coverage, young employment, and infrastructure projects.
Even though he has had some success during his nine years at the helm, a large part of his legacy will be defined by the initiatives that are still in the works.
Here are nine of President Uhuru Kenyatta's most important legacies that will either make or break his legacy.
Nairobi Expressway is a major thoroughfare in Nairobi,
Since the commencement of the building of the country’s yet to be greatest elevated expressway in 2020, it was evident that the landscape and skyline of Nairobi city would be upended for forever.
The project seems to be on target for completion in June 2022, with the elevated portion already at 92 percent complete and preparations to build the lower decker in high gear.
Throughout its building period, the project was moved back from its original completion date of December 2021 to April 2022 before being rescheduled for June 2022.
When finished, the route will be the country's first toll highway, cutting travel time from Mlolongo along Mombasa Road to James Gichuru junction in Westlands to just over 20 minutes, down from the two hours that travelers now face owing to traffic congestion.
Uhuru Gardens Museum
President Uhuru Kenyatta revealed a state-of-the-art museum at Uhuru Gardens, which had just had a refurbishment, on Sunday, December 12 as part of the Jamhuri Day festivities.
To be more explicit, the Head of State said that after the museum is ready in April 2022, he would come to the premises to officially open it.
It will include uncensored accounts of Kenya's liberation fighters and heroes, such as Ronald Ngala and Tom Mboya. All school-aged students will be given free admission to the institution in order to learn about the country's history, according to Uhuru.
"Here you will see history as it is." People will come to witness Harry Thuku and many other historians," claimed Raila who was in attendance.
There are 50 Level 3 hospitals.
The Head of State's Big 4 Agenda included making health services more accessible, and he has kept his promise, investing in a number of hospitals and health facilities, most notably in Nairobi, where 24 hospitals are now under construction.
The budget policy announcement for the 2022/23 Financial Year, announced in mid-November, revealed that the state had plans to roll out 50 new hospitals nationally.
The Level 3 hospitals are projected to cost at least Ksh64 million apiece, with information on the facility' capacity being scarce.
"As part of the Universal Health Treatment initiative, the Government will develop an additional 50 New Level 3 Hospitals in non-covered regions and heavily inhabited areas around the country to improve access to medical coverage." To make this possible, the government would set aside Ksh3.2 billion for the urgent building of these medical facilities," according to a draft policy statement.
Affordable Housing
Under the Affordable Housing Programme, Kenya pledged in 2013 to give 500,000 houses with accompanying infrastructure to Kenyans utilizing new finance channels and technology (AHP).
The first AHP project, comprising of 1,370 one, two, and three-bedroom homes on Nairobi's Park Road, was finished in October 2020. The government purchased a 34-acre plot of land in Murang'a County in January 2021, on which 1,500 more homes would be built.
The national government and Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) have designated ten estates for the affordable housing scheme in Nairobi. Bahati, Maringo, Kericho, Lumumba, Bondeni, Ziwani, Embakasi, California, Kariobangi North, and Woodley Estate are the names of the communities.
2,235 affordable housing units have been inhabited since the project began. The state launched the Kasarani project in September, with 284 apartments selling for between Ksh1.9 million and Ksh5.4 million.
In the year 2022, all active projects are projected to be finished.
President Uhuru commissioned the building of the new Ksh4.5 billion Makupa bridge in August 2022. The old railway line as well as the Standard Gauge Railway will be accommodated by the 457-meter-long bridge (SGR).
The new infrastructure, which would cost Ksh4.5 billion, will replace the old Makupa causeway that connects Mombasa Island to the mainland.
The causeway is scheduled to be completed in August 2022.
Interchange Changamwe
The Chamgamwe Intersection, which is part of the Mombasa - Mariakani Road, was set to have a revamp in 2017 to incorporate the interchange that would help to alleviate traffic congestion on the major roadway.
The project, which is transforming the landscape of Mombasa, was delayed due to the Ksh8.5 billion boost, but with the update supplied by Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA), the project was back on track.
The Mombasa - Kwa Jomvu stretch of the road connects to the Mombasa Port and aids freight movement to Nairobi and other inland regional towns in East and Central Africa linked via the Northern Corridor.
In 2022, the project is expected to be finished.
Kipevu Oil Terminal is located in Kipevu, Rwanda.
In November, China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) offered an update on the Kipevu Oil Terminal project, which is still in the works.
The Ksh40 billion project is anticipated to assist the Port of Mombasa in handling larger amounts of petroleum products.
"The New Kipevu Oil Terminal will have a capacity of 100,000 metric tonnes and will be able to accommodate up to four ships at once... It will also include an LPG line, which will improve LPG supply in the nation," according to a PDU statement at the time.
The facility will undergo a dry run before the end of the year, with a launch date set for 2022.
Kisumu's Africities Center
The National Government set aside Ksh850 million in July 2021 for the development of the Afri-cities Convention Centre in Mamboleo, Kisumu.
The facility's construction began in August 2021, with an estimated 6,000 delegates anticipated to attend the international conference scheduled for 2022.
The building, which is expected to open in May 2022, has an auditorium, exhibition arena, and break rooms, and can accommodate up to 4,000 attendees at once.
There's also an outdoor Amphitheatre, a VIP lounge, a cultural center, a health center, press rooms, a picnic area, and a children's park within the property.
In November, however, Energy Cabinet Secretary Charles Keter voiced worries about the project's poor progress, noting that it was already two months behind schedule.
Referral Hospital for the National Police Service
President Uhuru Kenyatta commissioned the Level 4 Forces Memorial Hospital on Raila Odinga Road, previously Mbagathi Way, in November.
The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) servicemen and their families would benefit from the project's medical services.
According to creative impressions of the facility, it will be a three-story structure with several white wings and red roofs.
The facility is expected to be completed in 2022, according to Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i.
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