Narok County Commissioner Samuel Kimiti has decried the slow pace of the construction of the 87-kilometer Narok-Kisiriri-Mau road commissioned for construction in 2017.
Kimiti who spoke when he led the County Development Implementation Coordination Committee in assessing and monitoring the project yesterday, criticised the contractor for having done only 45 percent of roadworks, over two years since the construction was launched.
“We are concerned that the construction of this road is very slow despite the government having released most of the money for construction,” said Kimiti.
Kimiti who was accompanied by officers from the Presidential Delivery Unity, Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) and the County top security team gave the contractor nine months to finish his work failing which they would consider legal action against him.
“We cannot sit down as government officials and watch government projects not being completed because of sluggish contractors. We want the road to be completed on time and the work done perfectly,” reiterated Kimiti.
The construction of the road to bitumen standard was launched by President Uhuru Kenyatta in July 2017 and was expected to be completed 30 months later.
The road is to be constructed to a tune of Sh1.2 billion and already Sh701 million has been released by the government for its construction.
Last year, the former Rift Valley Regional Commissioner Chimwaga Mongo inspected the road and asked the contractor to complete his work within the given timelines.
Its completion will be a big plus to the residents in the food rich area that borders Maasai Mau forest as they will transport their produce to the market with ease.
Sammy Nangari, a resident of Kisiriri area told the county commissioner that the community was excited when the construction was launched in 2017 but are worried because of the slow pace of construction.
“We long for the completion of this road because it will open up the Nakuru market for the farmers who are producers of potatoes, maize, carrots and cabbage,” said Nangari.
Another resident Ms. Margaret Morgan who owns 20 acres of land in Kisiriri said for many years farmers have been incurring losses due to impassable roads especially during rainy seasons forcing their produce to rot in the shamba.
She added that construction of the road will enable many vehicles using the highway hence most of their produce will be sold to the road users.
Residents of Mau area have in the past held demonstrations to pressure the government to build the road but their cry mostly fell on deaf ears.
Politicians campaigning to be elected in office mostly took advantage of the road where they promised to prioritize the road once they get in office, but they did very little once they ascended to power.
Olokruto, Oloropil and Olposumoru wards that are in the Narok Mau region where the road is passing are the main food basket of the county as the area experiences rain throughout the year.
By Ann Salaton
