Freeze put on new road projects for lack of funds

Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen. [Denis Kibuchi, Standard]

The government will not undertake new projects in the transport sector, Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has said.

Murkomen on Wednesday told the National Assembly that the move had been occasioned by financial constraints. However, he said the government would only initiate new projects if they are funded by development partners "on concessional terms".

"... or unless this House allocates funds to deal with emergencies such as security roads and dams," Murkomen said during the afternoon CS question time, citing the Sh84.1 billion Horn of Africa Gateway Development Project.

Northern region

The project funded by the World Bank and Africa Development Bank will see 764km of roads constructed across the Northern region as part of a plan to connect Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia.

Murkomen, who was responding to questions by Members of Parliament on stalled projects across the country, said 800 projects had been affected, some of which had stalled for "five to 10 years".

"Most of the 800 projects are currently on slow implementation while others have completely stopped due to the inability of the government to avail adequate budget over the years," he said. He put the cost of the projects at Sh763 billion.

The Transport CS further revealed that the government owes contractors Sh145 billion for certified works. Out of the figure, Sh50 billion is owed to local contractors, Sh60 billion to foreign contractors and Sh35 billion is owed in land acquisition.

Murkomen told the House his ministry will negotiate with contractors to resume work on the stalled projects saying that the government forecasts a better financial situation in the next financial year to allow borrowing "at affordable terms."

At the same time, the CS said that the construction of three footbridges along Mombasa Road in Nairobi and Machakos counties would begin on Thursday next week.

Footbridges cost

The three will be put up at Airtel Building, Syokimau and Katani areas, with the project, whose construction will last 18 months, set to cost Sh1.2 billion.

Machakos Woman Representative Joyce Kamene questioned why the ministry would not construct five footbridges as had been agreed upon during public participation.

"In the next phase, finances permitting, we shall increase the number of footbridges," Murkomen said, and revealed plans to set up more traffic cameras within Nairobi in a few months. He noted that more than 12 million vehicles had used the expressway since its inception in May 2022. Murkomen also announced plans to have major roads in Nairobi "tolled" in the model of the expressway.

The roads that could potentially be affected include the Thika Superhighway, Eastern Bypass, Southern Bypass, Western Bypass and the Outer Ring Road, a move he said would help "build infrastructure elsewhere in the country".

"Those who are benefiting from such infrastructure should contribute to the building of other roads around the country," Murkomen said, adding that dual roads with alternative passes should be tolled.

The CS is the third to appear before Parliament. Earlier, Environment and Forestry CS Soipan Tuya defended the reintroduction of maize cultivation under the 'shamba system' saying it improves forest cover. Ms Tuya said that a previous ban under the Plantation Establishment and Livelihood Improvement Scheme (Pelis), the replacement of the infamous shamba system, saw communities living around forested areas abandon plantations, resulting in a reduction of forest cover.

"The maize grows very fast and covers young tree seedlings thus reducing the growth of the young seedlings. The retarded seedlings would be chopped off during maize harvesting," she explained the rationale behind the initial ban, which was had been reversed by the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) Board.

Forest cover

She was responding to a question by Elgeyo Marakwet Women Representative Caroline Ng'elechei, who had expressed concern over massive decrease in forest cover resulting from the ban on maize cultivation.

"She is realistic because she knows that the ban on the cultivation of maize brought the negativity between the KFS and the surrounding community," Ng'elechei said.

Dagoretti North MP Beatrice Elachi was concerned that the infamous shamba system was prone to abuse.

"While I appreciate the system, I want the CS to ensure that those who are going to work around those forests are communities that live within those forests," Elachi said.

Tuya said that her ministry had put in place stringent measures that would ensure the preservation of forests.