Kericho-Mau Summit road 91 percent done

The Kericho-Mau Summit road is 91 per cent complete and will be opened by March 2015. World Bank and National Treasury officials led by the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) acting General Manager for Special Projects Eng Muchilwa who inspected the project commended contractor Solel Boneh International for the good work and asked them to take advantage of the favourable weather to expedite the remaining works.

“The road, which is part of the larger Northern Corridor Transport Improvement Project, will spur development in Western Kenya and in the neighbouring countries,” said Eng Muchilwa last week. He told the contractor to fast-track the marking of the road and erecting of road signage to ensure safety measures are adhered to during this festive season.

Drainage system

He also ordered that worn-out bumps be replaced and marked to protect lives. The major works remaining include the rehabilitation of one-and-a-half kilometres, construction of a drainage system and surface lining.

The road forms part of the Trans-African Highway joining the port of Mombasa with western Kenya to Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Major works will be completed before Christmas while others will be substantially completed by March next year. The contractor had applied for an extension to shift utilities and also work on the ground conditions. The project was jointly funded by the World Bank and the Government at a cost of Sh6.8 billion.

The road was expected to be completed by September 2012 but the date was later revised to last October due to vagaries of weather and a delay in relocation of overhead power lines and water pipelines along the road.