Construction works on the 100 kilometres Karandi-Mochongoi-Marigat road being funded at an estimated cost of Sh5.3 billion which had stalled due to delayed payments has finally resumed.
Baringo county commissioner Henry Wafula said the contractor, SBI International Holdings Company Limited, has already moved back to site and construction works has kicked off in earnest.
“Already the contractor is on the site and the construction works of the 100 kilometres road is ongoing from Karandi through Mochongoi and the SBI group which has completed the Oinobmoi-Barwessa road will now start from Marigat and they will meet half way,” said Wafula.
Addressing residents at Marigat boys secondary School grounds in Baringo South Tuesday after reading presidential speech to mark Mashujaa Day celebrations, the county commissioner said upon completion the critical road traversing the arid and semi-arid parts of Marigat Sub County, will greatly facilitate movement of security officers responding to emergencies in the insecurity prone region.
He said that the road will soon be commissioned by President Uhuru Kenyatta at a date to be announced later.
On Kazi Mtaani, the county commissioner said a total of 2,896 youth have been recruited in the second phase of the National Hygiene Programme as a way of cushioning them against the effects of Covid-19 pandemic.
He said the six month programme being implemented in informal settlements is geared towards offering employment to vulnerable youth some of who had lost livelihoods due to Coronavirus.
The programme is being carried out in sprawling slums of Bondeni and Kaprogonya in Kabarnet town, Kampi Turkana in Marigat town, Maji Mazuri, Mumberes and Bondeni in Eldama Ravine and Kaptorongot in Mogotio.
The youth, he stated, apart from doing manual works to improve the environment were undergoing training on entrepreneurship, national values and ethics and life skills.
In the celebrations attended by MPs Charles Kamuren (Baringo South), William Kamket (Tiaty), Women Representative Gladwell Cheruiyot and governor Stanley Kiptis, the commissioner said Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) is in the process of engaging 5,500 community scouts under the national government post Covid-19 initiative.
He asked local youth wishing to be enlisted to collect application forms from KWS offices in Kabarnet town and fill them to benefit from the six-month renewable contract.
Governor Kiptis in his speech asked Kenya rural Roads Authority (KeRRA) to support in the construction of challenging roads like Loruk-Tangulbei-Churo that will be of great importance in sealing some of the escape routes by cattle rustlers and bandits.
He added that his administration has managed to open up more than 1,815 kilometres of road network and maintained another 1,417 kilometres across the county to ease movement of people and goods and services with a view to accelerate economic growth.
“To create a conducive investment and business environment we have also upgraded to bitumen standards over 40 Kms of urban roads across major towns in the county. We so far spent close to Sh 180 million under this programme and we shall continue putting more resources until all our sub county headquarters acquire modern infrastructural facilities to attract investment and create jobs,
On Covid-19, Mr Kiptis commended health workers in the county for showing courage and patriotism in the face of the pandemic to ensure local residents received adequate medical attention and care.
He urged the health workers to continue with the same spirit of serving humanity and educating the public on the importance of strictly observing health measures and protocols.
On his part, governor Stanley Kiptis noted that Covid-19 still posed a threat to the county, adding that out the 1069 people tested in the area, 60 turned positive while two have died.
Kamuren urged local residents residing along the road to pave way for the expansion and facilitate faster completion of the project within the stipulated time frame.
At the same time, the MP called on both county and national governments to consider Sogo-Cheboruswo-Kibingor-Koriema road for upgrading saying that it will assist residents access major urban centres within the sub county with ease.
Kamket in his speech encouraged communities living along major roads to venture into investments and businesses to improve their livelihoods.
The Tiaty MP pointed out that Marigat town has immensely experienced accelerated growth because of the existing tarmacked road and so will be Chemolingot in Tiaty West, which is expected to be elevated to town status.
By Joshua Kibet/Benson Kelio
