Sh800m road construction project set to boost inter-county trade

The county administration has launched a Sh800 million project to tarmac roads in a bid to expand the transport network.

The road will cover 15km through Uriri sub-county into Ndhiwa sub-county in Homa Bay County, and is expected to improve trade between the two counties and along Lake Victoria.

At the same time, Migori Governor Zachary Obado has requested the national government to fast-track the reimbursement of funds meant for the construction of roads which are still under the central government.

"As we open up new roads and build those under county governments, it is also my appeal to the national government to surrender money for construction of roads under it. Construction of some of its roads have stalled," he said.

Recently, Mr Obado unveiled the construction of bridges across River Migori in an effort to boost trade between Kenya and Tanzania.

"It is only about three years since the advent of devolution and the steps my administration has taken to move the county forward are evident to all because they have been done in the open," he said.

Obado said it was important for county governments to improve road infrastructure to boost trade and ease movement.

He said his administration had opened up new roads in all 42 wards and that with assistance from the State, another road was currently being tarmacked to link up Lake Victoria through Kuria Sub-County into Narok County.

"This major road will make it easier for our people to trade with the outside world and improve transport between Migori and Nairobi," he said.

Roads Executive Moses Chamwada said the roads built to link up the counties were also meant to boost tourism in the region.