Embu scores highly in infrastructure

Embu Governor Martin Wambora speaks to the press at his office on Thursday during a briefing on the status of the county. [BY JOSEPH MUCHIRI/STANDARD]

Embu, Kenya: For Embu Governor Martin Wambora, infrastructural development stands out as his key achievement.

"We settled on prioritising an elaborate infrastructure network throughout the county that would realise a rapid economic growth rate to enable us to realise our vision for a prosperous county with equal opportunities for all," he said during a Press briefing on Thursday.

He said infrastructural developments consumed a huge portion of the development funds, which amounted to 30 per cent of the county's revenue, contrary to a World Bank report that the county spent only five per cent on development.

Mr Wambora, a former MP, deputy permanent secretary and chairman at the Kenya Airports Authority, also said the need to transform infrastructure in Embu was informed by experiences in developed countries.

These include the US, China, Brazil, India and Malaysia, which adopted a similar concept to attain their present economic growth rate by developing elaborate infrastructure networks.

BUS PARK

Wambora said 182 roads covering 448km had been rehabilitated while 91 others covering 237km were graded and gravelled.

He said eight bridges and footbridges were also built, linking previously inaccessible areas, thus promoting trade and easing movement.

"We have also built a modern bus park and the Embu-Nairobi bus terminus which serves thousands of passengers daily," he said.

On energy infrastructural projects, Wambora said 25 floodlights had been installed in 25 market centres and seven street lighting projects in major urban centres in the county.

He said those projects had promoted trade, especially for small traders, as well as boosted safety for residents.