Infrastructure development funding up 20pc to Sh182b

By Patrick Githinji

Finance Minister Uhuru Kenyatta allocated Sh182 billion to infrastructure development, which represents an increase of Sh30 billion or 20.1 per cent over the amount allocated in the 2009/10 fiscal year.

In the 2009/10 fiscal year some 715 km of roads were constructed, 1,112 km rehabilitated and 1,142 km maintained.

"I have accordingly allocated in this budget Sh182 billion towards financing prioritised infrastructure development countrywide," he said.

To continue with the ongoing road construction work and scaling up investments in infrastructure, Uhuru further allocated Sh78.6 billion to the sub-sector’s development budget.

The total development budget for road construction — Sh700 million — will specifically be used to initiate the rehabilitation and construction of Voi-Taveta road to open trade and make it easier for northern Tanzania to transport imports and exports through the port of Mombasa.

Kenyatta further allocated Sh4.2 billion to open up northern Kenya by linking the country with Ethiopia through Isiolo with a bituminous road.

road maintenance

To ensure the roads remain in motorable condition, Uhuru further allocated Sh23.5 billion for road maintenance.

He also allocated Sh1.9 billion towards the investment of the commuter railway line in Nairobi. In the 2009/10 fiscal year Sh600 million was injected into the project.

The project, he said, would significantly reduce cost of transport and traffic jam.

On ports, Uhuru said the Government was working closely with stakeholders to accelerate the implementation of a single window port community based system to facilitate faster, efficient and competitiveness clearance of cargo, to enable large vessels in Mombasa.