Upgrade of Mwatate-Taveta road to begin

By PHILIP  MWAKIO

 

Tarmacking of the 90km Mwatate-Taveta road that also serves as an international highway linking Kenya and Tanzania is expected to start in June.

According to the Taita Taveta County Executive in charge of public works and Infrastructure, Alexander Mwangeka, the contractor, China Road Construction Company is already on site and is currently mobilising heavy duty machinery equipment to be used in tarmacking and general road upgrade works.

“The contractor is expected to take 36 months to construct the road. He has, however, indicated his willingness to take only 28 months instead on the section that will run from Mwatate town all the way to Taveta border town at the Customs offices,” Mwangeka said.

Bank support

Funds for construction of the road have been made possible with support from the African Development Bank (AfDB) which has available Sh10.5 billion. 

“We are excited that the long wait is over. After waiting for close to five decades, we are now able to see modernity in this part of the republic of Kenya as this road which is an important link serving both Kenya and Tanzania gets tarmacked,” Mwangeka explained.

He added that as a county government, they are banking on more mega infrastructural development to help open up the potentially mineral rich county and home to the largest conservation area-the Tsavo.

Mwangeka, who is also the chair of the inter governmental consultative forum of county ministers of transport and infrastructure, said the road is crucial to promotion of regional integration and enhancement of tourism.

He also said the upgrading of the Ikanga airstrip to a modern airport to handle wide bodied aircraft remains top on the must do projects in the county.