The government through Kenya National Highway Authority (KeNHA) is set to construct two footpaths along the Narok-Maai Mahiu highway at an estimated cost of Sh. 80 million.
A representative from KeNHA Engineer Duncan Oduor said one footpath will be constructed across River Narok, in Narok town while the other will be near the Maasai Mara Technical Training Institute across River Siyiabei.
Oduor spoke at a County Service Delivery meeting held at the County Commissioner’s conference hall that was attended by all heads of departments in the National Government.
He said the works will begin in January 2023 as feasibility studies have already been done and expected to be completed in the course of the year.
“These two points have heavy traffic. We will expand the road by creating a footpath to decongest these points,” the engineer told the meeting that was chaired by Narok County Commissioner Isaac Masinde.
The construction of the two footpaths is a big relief to the Narok residents especially learners at the Maasai Mara University and St. Peter’s primary school who cross the River Narok bridge to access Narok town and Maasai Mara Technical Institution students who cross river Siyabei daily.
At the same time, the engineer decried increased littering on the road reserves that block drainages thus causing flash floods during the rainy seasons.
“There is a lot of litter on the road reserve every day that ends up in the drainage system. This causes blockage of the drainage system and when it rains, the system easily blocks causing heavy floods,” he said.
Masinde said he will liaise with the relevant departments at the county government to provide waste bins in many points in town and along the highways.
By Ann Salaton