In the last two days, President William Ruto has started four significant road projects, some of which had stopped.
The multi-billion shilling projects would cost more than Sh10.7 billion to finish and are spread throughout the counties of Kajiado, Bomet, Kakamega, Nandi, and Uasin Gishu.
On Friday of the two-day exercise, President Ruto inaugurated the initial batch of projects in Kajiado and Bomet. Additionally, Ruto visited Nandi and Uasin Gishu counties yesterday to inspect ongoing construction projects and restart a stalled road project in Malava, Kakamega.
According to Philemon Kandie, director general of the Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA), the President has started fully restarting all halted road projects as he moves to ensure that 6,000 kilometers of roads are rebuilt to asphalt.
As part of the Kajiado project, Ongata Rongai – Gataka – Embulbul, Co-operative College (Karen) – Matasia – Nkoroi, Ongata Rongai Nazarene University – Rimpa & JN (C 58) – Lewisa Academy – Kahara Market will be upgraded to bitumen standards and subject to performance-based routine maintenance.
The government’s failure to pay the contractors’ outstanding debts of Sh3.9 billion caused the road to become impassable. As we work on his bills so that he can resume work fully, the contractor agreed to finish the 3 km section of Ongata Rongai-Nazarene, according to a conversation they had.
The project in Bomet would involve bitumen standard upgrade and maintenance of the roads in Silibwet, Merigi, Kaparuso, Tegat, Cheaper, Kimuchul, Matcher, Longisa, Kembu, and Chemaner, as well as Mulot, Kapkimolwa, Kembu, and Kaparuso, and Matecha-Mugoiywet.
According to Ruto, a contract for the Sh2.8 billion Bomet roads with a 42-month completion date was signed on September 23, 2019.
Additionally, Kandie continued, “the road will facilitate quicker access to educational institutions and other crucial facilities, open up the region for inter and intra-regional trade and investment, and improve security.
The road project in Kajiado consists of 65 km of cumulative linkages. The construction of these roads, according to Kandie, would relieve congestion on the Magadi route from the Galleria Shopping Center to Rongai and the Ngong road from Karen to Ngong town.
And in Western, Ruto started the 13 km Malava – Kimang’eti – Ikoli Road’s upgrade to bitumen level, which had stopped. The road, which is being built for Sh542 million, is around 6.5 kilometers long and halfway done.
Additionally, President Ruto inspected 61.35 km of roads that pass through the counties of Nandi and Uasin Gishu. The Rivatex – Simat – Lemook – Kipkaren Selia – Kapkatembo – Kipkaren & Kaplemur – Kabiet and St. Theresa – Center Kwanza roads are included in the Sh3.52 billion roads.