Elgeyo Marakwet, Kenya: The road construction linking Iten and Bugar towns in Elgeyo Marakwet County has taken too long.
KIU Construction Company was awarded the contract in 2010 to upgrade the 12-km stretch but four years down the line, nothing significant had been done. The project was to cost Sh656 million but the period expired on April 2013, and it was extended by another year.
Motorists plying the road have, on several occasions, been forced to spend hours on the road especially during rainy seasons when it is impassable.
Mr Paul Kimuge a resident of Simotwo village wonders why the contractor has taken so long to tarmac such a short stretch. Machakos County government, on the other hand, last year, tarmacked a 33-kilometre stretch in a record three months, after the county government gave 11 contractors the tender.
“We are wondering whether this road will ever be finished,” said Mr Kimuge.
The road is an essential link and economic road in the county and connects Iten, the county headquarters with Marakwet West, Marakwet East sub-counties and Uasin Gishu county. It is part of Nyaru-Iten and Cheptongei-Kapenguria Road, which is set to ease transport crisis in the North Rift. Most disadvantaged during bad weather are tomato and mango farmers. Speaking to The Standard on Saturday after flagging off lorries and other machinery to be used in constructing roads in the county, Elgeyo/Marakwet County Governor Alex Tolgos, said his government will ensure the road is completed
He said: “We have improved several roads to help our farmers deliver their produce to markets.”
Speaking in Chebiemit, Marakwet West Sub-county while commissioning Chebiemit-Kapsowar section that is along the same stretch in mid November last year, Deputy President William Ruto accused KIU of delaying the road construction while money had already been released. But KIU Managing Director Kariuki Theuri, said his company was yet to get any money. He said should the government give them the money, they will do the job in two weeks.
“We are done with gravel and culverts.
What is remaining is bitumen and that is the easiest work,” he added.
The local leaders and residents had staged several protests claiming the contractor was a ‘briefcase’ outift with no capacity to construct the road.
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