Government to spend Sh26 billion on roads

By Athman Amran

The Government is expected to allocate Sh26 billion this financial year for improvement and maintenance of rural roads, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Uhuru Kenyatta has said.

This would be a Sh2 billion increment from last year’s allocation. Last year, the Government spent over Sh24 billion to upgrade, rehabilitate and maintain rural roads.

"The aim of this huge investment is to create a road network to facilitate trade, tourism, agricultural production and marketing," Uhuru said on Saturday.

He was speaking in Kiambu County during the official launch of the construction of Ngorongoro-Githunguri Road and access road to Nazareth Hospital.

The 24km long road project will cost Sh1.34 billion and is expected to be complete in 24 months.

The minister said an improved road network is expected to contribute to reduction of the cost of inputs in agriculture and thus accelerate economic growth.

Infrastructure network

Uhuru said improving infrastructure is one of the key priorities in the national development vision, which seeks to transform the country into a middle-income status by 2030.

"Without an effective infrastructure network, we cannot meaningfully transform our economy as envisioned in the Vision 2030 strategy," he said.

He added that this was the reason the Government has continued to allocate more funds to the construction of roads.

Uhuru said he wanted to see more local construction companies build and maintain roads.

"But they have to build roads of international standards and within a shorter time," Uhuru said.

He urged local road contractors to invest in personnel and equipment and to be competitive.

Uhuru at the same time called on leaders to join hands in building the nation.

He said Kenya wants a leadership that would ensure all Kenyans enjoy a thriving economy where their children would get adequate education, employment.