Major demolitions to be undertaken to pave way for Kisii-Isebania road construction

Some of the buildings set to demolished to pave way for the construction of a road interchange and carriage in Kisii. (Photos Eric Abuga)

Private developers along the Kisii-Isebania Road are staring at the demolition of their properties to pave way for the construction of an interchange along the Kisii-Migori and Kisii-Kisumu road junction.

Those to be affected are owners of hotels, malls and residential houses. The main project is divided into two lots; the Sh8.6 billion Isebania- Kisii road of approximately 86 Km, which was awarded to China Henan International Corporation Group and the approximately 84km Ahero-Kisii Road that would cost Sh9.4 billion.

The government has set aside Sh1.5 billion as counterpart financing to offset resettlement and monitoring costs.

Charles Njogu, the Assistant Director of Communication at the Kenya National Highways Authority (KENHA) said that project-affected persons have been factored in. “Compensation plans are being undertaken by the National Lands Commission.”

Implementation of the project shall affect people living within the right of way. Other properties facing destruction include temporary stalls in market centres, fences, gates, crops, trees and farmlands in villages along the alignment that mainly have encroached on the available road reserve.

Approximately 6,126 project entities, mostly households and 249 institutions mainly schools and health facilities. which would lose fences and gates.

Third Engineering Bureau of China Company doing the Ahero-Kisii road will be paying close to Sh450 million in four instalments to its sub-contractors.

The project is part of President Uhuru Kenyatta's legacy projects.