Tarmacking of Narok-Maasai Mara road to commence in August

NAROK: The government has assured tourism players that the tarmacking of Narok-Maasai Mara road will commence this August.

Speaking in Narok on Monday when he presided over the commissioning of a 40-kilometer road network in Narok town, Deputy President William Ruto said the government has allocated an additional Sh3 billion for the construction of the road saying the Sh1 billion that had been set aside in the last financial year was not enough.

Ruto said the poor state of the road has negatively affected the tourism sector that he stated is an important component to the country's economy.

"Tourism is one of the country's economic pillars. Despite the challenges that the sectors continues to grapple with, the government is committed to ensuring that roads leading to our parks be maintained properly. The realization of Vision 2030 is pegged on one of these pillars," he said.

The DP said the contractor who will be awarded the tender must hire labour from the local community.

However, tourism stakeholders have accused the government of not walking the talk on its pledge to tarmac the road.

Siana Conservancy Chairman Sammy Nkoitoi said it is insincere of the government to continue giving pledges yet it should have used the Sh1 billion set aside in the last financial year to commence the works.

"The move is long overdue and state should walk the talk because they have been promising us to repair the road," said Nkoitoi.

He said that the bad roads have resulted to tour operators incurring losses and frustrating tourists on the board.

"If the government was serious in promoting domestic tourism then it should have long ago rolled out this project. Locals have shied away because they cannot afford to hire four-wheel vehicles," he said.

At the same time, Ruto said Sh1.2b has been set aside for construction of two bypasses that will de-congest Narok town.

"As a way of supporting the Narok county government implement its town plan the national government has set aside funds for by-passes in Rotian and Ewaso Nyiro," said the DP.

In the plan the two bypasses one at Rotian and another at Limanent will be used by vehicles which do not want to enter the town. The two bypasses will meet at Ewaso Nyiro just after the airstrip.