The head of Government Delivery Service (GDS) Agnes Odhiambo has inspected three ongoing projects in Migori County to ascertain their progress to help the country realize its economic agenda.
Migori County Commissioner David Gitonga said that the Oyani Water Supply-last mile connectivity, Lichota Airstrip and the Masara Sori road needed to be finalized to effectively serve the local residents.
Gitonga said that Lichota airstrip has become one of the busiest airstrips in the Nyanza region by connecting and serving the tourism sector both in Kenya and Tanzania.
Tourists heading to the world’s popular tourists’ destinations- Maasai Mara and Serengeti Game Parks and the World’s heritage archaeological site in Migori – Thim Lich Ohinga, will have an opportunity to use the improved airstrip and enjoy the fastest means to reach their destinations in Migori and Tanzania.
The administrator noted that the airstrip project will be completed when a hangar is projected to cost around Sh150 Million is erected to provide flight schedules.
“We do not have scheduled daily and weekly flights because we have no hangar in our airstrip,” noted Gitonga.
He also acknowledged that the 11 Kilometer stretch section of the Masara-Sori Road project of the 41 Km remained uncompleted. The Shs.1.5 Billion road contract was awarded in 2018, but the commencement of the road project started in 2019.
The expected road project completion period was 2021, but the contractor’s progress was affected by the restrictions issued by the government to contain the spread of Covid-19.
Rainfall experienced in the area, the delay of payments as well as delays in the relocation of the power poles were other factors that have led to delaying the road project.
Gitonga said that the government was eager to complete the projects to ensure that they serve their purpose as well as benefit the local residents.
The GDS team visit to the county was aimed at helping the nation realize its economic transformation agenda through monitoring and evaluation.
By Geoffrey Makokha
