Narok County government will prioritise renovation of roads in Narok North Sub County that are in deplorable conditions so as to enhance transportation of food to the markets.
This will be a sigh of relief to many farmers in the region who have been incurring huge losses as their farm produce rot in their farms for lack of transport.
The newly appointed Executive Member in Charge of Road and Transport John Gatua said this was a top priority in Governor Patrick Ntutu’s manifesto who wanted to empower farmers in the food rich areas.
Gatua said the most affected areas are Melili, Olchoro, Olposimoru and Sakutiek where there is plenty of food production but unfortunately rot in farms because of deprived roads to transport the produce to the markets.
“We expect the renovation of roads to open up markets for the farmers to sell their produce in major towns and cities at a huge profit,” he said.
He said they have already classified the roads according to their condition as there are those that require grading, others need to be maintained while other roads need to be tarmacked.
After completing the roads in Narok North Sub County, he said, the roads officials will move to Narok East, Narok South and West before ending in Trans Mara region.
Gatua reiterated that the farmers will start feeling the impacts in four months’ time as the work will begin immediately.
He called on the machine operators to be careful to ensure the machines are in good condition saying those who will mishandle the machines will be held accountable. “Already, we have well trained mechanics and drivers to handle the machines for road maintenance. We expect everything to move smoothly,” he said.
Farmers in the rich agricultural areas have in the past raised concern over run-down roads that hinder them from transporting their farm produce to the markets.
On some occasions, the farmers have taken the challenge to themselves where they team up to make the roads alleging negligence from the county government.
By Ann Salaton
