Plans to transform Kakamega into a city taking shape

Street lights and flags placed along Kakamega-Kisumu Highway for Mashujaa Day 2018 in Kakamega. The road was also tarmacked to make the town look good. [Duncan Ocholla, Standard]

Not long ago, Kakamega was a sleepy shopping centre dotted with old structures.

One could easily describe it as a desolate rural shopping centre in the middle of a forest. Not anymore. County Roads Executive Collins Matemba says the changing fortunes of Kakamega, christened ‘green jewel and home to bullfighting’, are obvious for all to see.

The ongoing construction of 83-kilometre Kisumu-Webuye is one of the actions changing kakamega’s visibility.

“The highway is a key transit route which is also critical to the local industrial and agricultural communities,” says Matembe

Works on the 43-kilometre stretch from Kisumu to Kakamega has been completed while the 40km Kakamega – Webuye stretch is about 80 per cent complete.

Local traders say the highway upgrade has reduced hours spent on the road from Kakamega to Eldoret, Bungoma and Kitale. “Initially, the road was full of potholes and one could spent about two hours travelling from Kakamega town to Kaburengu junction, however, things have changed for the better,” says Florence Mukabana, a local trader.

Matemba says the county government was determined to improve network across the 12 sub-counties as a development enabler.

He, however, cites challenges - including encroachment on road reserves by individuals - as some of the challenges frustrating the county’s efforts to expand roads.

The county government had earlier won a Sh400 million grant to upgrade infrastructure within the municipality and decongest Kakamega and Mumias towns.

It was among counties that benefited from the World Bank funded Kenya Urban Support Programme.

The money is being spent on beautification and expansion of the two towns as well as giving recreational facilities including Muliro gardens a facelift.

Besides, sanitation and security in Kakamega town has improved because the back streets have been upgraded and streetlights erected in strategic areas.

“We have embarked on a street lighting programme within the munipacity a move that will transform Kakamega into a 24-hour economy,” says Matembe.

The county government has an annual budget of Sh120 million for rural electrification programme. “We collaborate with Kenya Power Lighting in implementing the initiative,” says Matemba.

The County Executive Committee and MCAs have already approved 10-year-spatial plan to expand Kakamega municipality from its current 12,108 acres to 30,394 acres.

The new municipality mapping will include Khayega, Eshisiru and Lubao towns on its outskirts.

Streetlights mounted from Shirere, through Kakamega CBD all the way to Lurambi are part of the ambitious project according to Matemba.  

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