Migori County’s dream of having an airport and super roads has eventually come to fruition after the National government invested heavily in infrastructure expansion in the region.
The move by President Uhuru Kenya’s government to pump billions of shillings in various infrastructure expansion programmes has become a broad development undertaking that has seen new tarmac roads sprouting up in the area even within the remotest villages.
Among the projects that the local people are marveling about is the Masara-Sori- Agolo Muok road currently being up-graded to bitumen standards at a cost of Sh1.52 billion.
The 42Km road currently 65 per cent complete will trigger increased trade to a region hitherto boxed into poverty due to the bad roads that always became impassable during rainy periods completely cutting off access to markets especially to farmers.
True to the expectations of the people in Nyatike Sub County where the road traverses the breadth and width of the sun-scotched land, most trading centres along the stretch of the new road have started becoming busy 24-7, among them Nyakweri Market.
It will come handy in boosting trade in Minerals especially gold as well as making easy transportation of fish from the numerous landing points along the Lake Victoria beaches to the markets outside Nyatike.
Other roads that the State is upgrading in the region are Motemorabu/Subakuria/Masaba road (25km) being done at a cost of Sh1,06 billion and Motemorabu/Subakurai roads that ends at the Kenya/Tanzania border.
The stretch of the road from and to the Kenya /Tanzania border is expected to improve security surveillance within the notably porous border, according to local County Commissioner Boaz Cherutich.
The stake is also expected to go high in the region following the intense grading of the Masara-Muhuru road that will ensure fish reach markets in Migori and beyond while fresh.
The government is grading the road at a cost of Sh18.5 million through contractor M/s Roots GAA Services limited and will allow more small vehicles and trucks to ply the route to the fish-rich shores of Lake Victoria.
“We thank the government for improving this road which will allow traders to fast deliver their fish to markets in Migori and beyond,” said fish monger William Nyauche, who complained of operating losses of thousands of shillings every week because of lack of good transport and cold storage facilities in the area.
The government has also completed the construction of Awendo/Mariwa/Oyani road (Completed in 2018) and currently doing the Kehancha-Ntimaru road at a cost of 1.5 billion shillings.
Besides the modernisation of the road network, the state has also embarked on modernising the sole air strip within the county –Lichota Airstrip to a fully fledged Airport.
With the ongoing works at 47 percent complete at the moment, the facility will be a great booster to trade in the region especially for the tourism industry.
Located only 5 kilometres from Migori town and 25 kilometers from the Isebania border town, the airport is expected to be ideal for the growth of Migori and provide important commercial links with neighbouring countries.
“We expect the facility to present a quick link to local and international holiday makers heading to popular sites in Maasai Mara and Serengeti parks Maasai Mara and the world heritage archeological site in Migori, Thim Lich Ohinga,” says the area County Executive Committee (CEC) Member in charge of Trade and Tourism, MS Sheila Mwita.
By George Agimba
