President William Ruto has launched four major road projects in the past two days, some which had stalled.
The multi-billion shilling projects cover Kajiado, Bomet, Kakamega, Nandi and Uasin Gishu counties and will cumulatively cost more than Sh10.7 billion to complete.
The two-day exercise saw President Ruto launch the first set of projects in Kajiado and Bomet on Friday. And yesterday, Ruto launched a stalled road project in Malava, Kakamega, and inspected ongoing works, traversing Nandi and Uasin Gishu counties.
Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA) Director General Philemon Kandie said the President has embarked on full resumption of construction works on all stalled road projects as he gears towards ensuring 6,000 kilometers of road are upgraded to tarmac.
The Kajiado project entails upgrading to bitumen standard and performance-based routine maintenance of Ongata Rongai - Gataka - Embulbul, Co-operative College (Karen) - Matasia - Nkoroi, Ongata Rongai Nazarene University - Rimpa & JN (C 58) - Lewisa Academy - Kahara Market.
"The road stalled because the government failed to settle pending bills owed to the contractors totalling Sh3.9 billion. We have talked with the contractor and he will complete the 3km stretch of Ongata Rongai-Nazarene as we work on his bills so that he can resume work fully," said Ruto.
In Bomet, the project will include upgrading to bitumen standard and maintenance of Silibwet - Merigi - Kaparuso - Tegat - Cheaper - Kimuchul - Matcher, Longisa - Kembu - Chemaner, Mulot - Kapkimolwa - Kembu - Kaparuso, Matecha-Mugoiywet Roads.
Ruto said that the contract for the Sh2.8 billion Bomet roads was signed on September 23, 2019, with a 42-month completion schedule.
"The road will also enhance faster access to learning institutions and other crucial facilities, open up the region for inter and intra-regionak trade and investment and also improve security," added Kandie.
In Kajiado, the road project has cumulative links of 65Km. Kandie said upon completion, these roads will decongest Magadi road from Galleria Shopping Center to Rongai and Ngong road from Karen to Ngong town.
And in Western, Ruto launched the upgrading to bitumen standard of the 13km Malava - Kimang'eti - Ikoli Road in Malava, which had stalled.
The road is being constructed at the cost of Sh542 million and is half way complete with some 6.5km done.
Further, President Ruto inspected 61.35km roads that transverse two counties of Uasin Gishu and Nandi. The Sh3.52 billion roads stretches from Rivatex - Simat - Lemook - Kipkaren Selia - Kapkatembo - Kipkaren & Kaplemur - Kabiet and St. Theresa - Centre Kwanza roads.
