County pumps Sh600million to the 10km per ward roads projects

Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa. [Benard Lusigi, Standard]

The county government of Kakamega has pumped Sh600 million towards infrastructure improvement programme.

The programme will see at least 600 kilometres of roads across the 60 wards of the county either turned to bitumen standards or murramed under the 10km per ward roads project.

"This programme will see the repairing of the impassable roads, construction of new roads, upgrading some murram roads to bitumen standards and fast track construction of bridges within the wards," said Governor Fernandes Barasa.

Governor Barasa said he has given contractors a maximum of four weeks to complete all the murram roads and six months for those being upgraded bitumen standards.

The governor who has so far launched the construction of roads in Lurambi, Mumias West, Ikolomani, Likuyani, Khwisero, Mumias East, Matungu and  Navakholo constituencies. Each ward will get about Sh10 million.

He has put lazy contractors on notice, saying he will not sit back and watch his ambitious plans getting scuttled.

"Contractors should stick to the timelines and ensure the roads are up to the required standards," said Barasa, adding 'the targeted roads play connect many areas to key markets, health facilities and learning institutions' which calls for the need to speed up the work.

In Matungu Constituency, Barasa intends to use Sh50 million across the five wards with each ward receiving Sh10 million for the 10km road project.

Mumias East which has three wards will get Sh29.9 million with each ward getting Sh9.9 million for the program.

In Khwisero that has four wards, will  Sh37.5 million with each ward getting approximately Sh10 million for road construction.

Navakholo which has five wards, the county intends to use Sh49.9 for the entire project with each ward getting Sh9.9 million for the program, while in Likuyani constituency which has five wards the devolved unit will use Sh38.9 million for the program.

 Lurambi Constituency which has six wards will get Sh61.9 million for the project with each ward receiving approximately Sh9.9 for the 10km road.

In Lurambi Barasa has launched the construction of 60km of roads in Butsotso South, Mahiakalo ward will have Mahiakalo Pri. Junction - Show ground - Nyayo Tea Zone - Shikulu junction upgraded to bitumen standards.

Additionally, in Ikolomani Constituency Barasa has already launched the Shisende-Munyaza-Ibwali road,  the constituency which has four wards, the constituency will use Sh35.4 million for the project while the Mumias constituency which has four wards will use Sh34 million for the road project.

In Mumias East, Barasa has already launched the Mumias – Matawa – Indangalasia road which will be upgraded to bitumen. It links Mumias, Matungu, and Ugenya constituencies in Siaya County thereby bridging Kakamega and Siaya counties. 

Area residents of Mumias West, Mumias East, Matungu, Malava, and Navakholo constituencies have welcomed the infrastructure improvement saying 'a good road network will make it easy' to transport their produce to the market. 

“I am a sugarcane farmer living in remote areas and we have been having difficulties in transporting our cane to the sugar factories around due to impassable roads," Christine Adhiambo a resident of Mumias West

She went on : "We welcome the governor's initiative to have every ward have a passable road, this will enable us to transport and sell our sugarcane easily,” .

Benjamin Atei, a businessman and farmer in the transport sector said the construction and repairing of roads will cushion him against using a lot of money for maintenance.

“The construction and maintenance of the roads will also cushion us from the high cost of repairing our vehicles and motorbikes which get damaged due to the dilapidated roads,"  said Mr Atei