Malindi, Kenya, 22/05/2026 — The President of the Republic of Kenya, H.E. William Samoei Ruto, presided over the official groundbreaking ceremony for the Mjanaheri–Ngomeni road, financed by the Government of Italy, on Friday 22 May. The event was attended by Marco Scoppa, Chargé d’Affaires ad interim at the Embassy of Italy in Nairobi, Fabio Minniti, Head of the Nairobi Office of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), Harsama Kello, Principal Secretary for Regional Development of Kenya, alongside representatives of the Italian Space Agency, the Coastal Development Authority, national and county government authorities, and leaders from local communities.
The infrastructure project falls under the MISHDP II Programme, financed by Italy through a concessional loan aimed at strengthening healthcare services, the education system, and local infrastructure. The road will directly serve more than 600,000 people in the Malindi and Magarini sub-counties, reducing travel time from one hour to just 15 minutes and cutting transport costs by more than half. By improving access to essential services and infrastructure, the road link will support the development of trade, tourism, fisheries, and other key economic activities for coastal communities. It will also facilitate access to the Luigi Broglio Space Centre, jointly managed by the Italian Space Agency and the Kenya Space Agency.
The ceremony took place at a particularly significant moment for bilateral relations between Italy and Kenya, with Kenya identified as a priority country under Italy’s Mattei Plan for Africa. The recent Official Visit by President Ruto to Rome, during which eight agreements were signed and a joint three-year Action Plan was launched, elevated the relationship to a strategic partnership.
During the ceremony, President Ruto unveiled the commemorative plaque and officially launched the construction works.