NAKURU, Wednesday 13/12/2017. By Jane Ngugi and Dennis Rasto.
The state department of infrastructure will spend Ksh. 500 Million on interim intervention measures along the Nakuru –Eldoret highway aimed at mitigating against frequent road accidents.
Infrastructure Principal Secretary Eng. John Musonik says the department will put on hold other projects over the next 8 months to enable the department generate money to finance erection of bumps along the 16 KM stretch between Salgaa and Mau Summit that has been described as the most accident prone stretch.
The PS made the remarks today at Sachangwan, as he addressed journalists at the spot where several lives were lost in a multiple pile up involving 13 vehicles yesterday.
He revealed that part of the money would be used to rehabilitate an old by pass stretch to be designated to lighten traffic in a move aimed at decongesting the highway.
The old Mau Summit – Salgaa road stretches 10 kilometers.
While attributing yesterday`s grisly accident to human error, Eng. Musonik said the Government has already floated a tender to construct a dual carriage between Njoro turn off to Mau- Summit area along the highway to eligible contractors as a long term measure to avert road carnage along the highway.
The construction works are anticipated to end by the end of 2018.
Musonik said his ministry was exploring ways of engaging partners within the private sector with a view to expanding the entire Nairobi Eldoret highway into a dual carriage in a move aimed at reducing road accidents along the highway.
The PS said that as part of concerted efforts to save lives during the festive season, the department will work with the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) to escalate surveillance along the highway in a bid to ensure that motorists observe the law.
He called upon motorists and all road users to respect traffic regulations and exercise caution while driving saying that with the onset of the Christmas festivities, the number of road users is bound to increase.
The PS who was accompanied by officials from the Kenya Highways Authority (KENHA) noted that this year alone, at least 61 people have lost their lives on the highway.
