National government has released Sh. 300 million for the rehabilitation of the Kabarnet-Kabartonjo-Kipsaraman road in Baringo County which is currently in dilapidated state, area MP William Cheptumo said.
Cheptumo said the contractor is expected to be on site in two weeks’ time and work will commence immediately.
Addressing wananchi at Moi Kabartonjo primary school grounds, the legislator said the contractor has been instructed to prioritize the employment of local youth when enlisting unskilled labour to enable them get a livelihood.
He lauded the Jubilee government for tarmacking two major roads in his constituency at a whooping cost of Sh. 4.1 billion.
The two roads currently at various stages of completion are Oinobmoi-Kapluk-Barwessa undertaken by SBI Company at an estimated cost of Sh. 2.1 billion and the 52 kilometres Kipsaraman-Kinyach being done at Sh. 2 billion.
Mr Cheptumo said once completed, the two critical roads connecting the lowlands to major highways in the highlands, will help open up lower parts of Kerio Valley and ease transportation of goods and services especially horticultural produce and livestock products to urban markets.
The legislator stated he recently requested KERRA Director General Engineer Luka Kimeli while on an inspection tour of the ongoing flagship road projects to consider upgrading Lake Baringo-Kipcherere-Kasisit road to bitumen status to open up the eastern escarpment.
On water, Mr Cheptumo said the current water shortage being experienced in Kabartonjo town and adjacent urban centres like Ossen and Pemwai will be sorted out once the construction of the multimillion Kirandich Dam phase 11 commences.
He said Deputy President while on a visit to Italy three weeks ago, finalized the issue of funding and soon a new contractor will be recruited to undertake the giant project planned to cost Sh. 1.8 billion.
The project which has stalled for more than 15 years was commissioned by former President Daniel arap Moi in August 2001.
He lamented that due to the acute water crisis in Kabartonjo town, residents were purchasing a 20-litre jerrican of the precious commodity at Sh 25 instead of the normal Sh 5.
“We are in consultation with the county government so that we desilt Toiwon dam and others to augment the national government concerted efforts,” said the MP.
On security, he urged the county security team to ensure security officers enhanced patrols in cattle rustling hotspots like Yatia,Kapturo,Chepkesin,Kagir in Baringo North and Mukutani,Arabal and Kapindasum in Baringo South so that people in the affected areas celebrate Christmas and New Year festivities in peace.
The national government through Interior ministry, he disclosed, has agreed to recruit more police reservists to complement security officers in cattle rustling prone zones of Baringo North, Baringo South and Tiaty.
He added that all NPR will be trained soon to equip them with the necessary firearm skills to be able to combat criminals effectively in their areas of jurisdiction.
He praised the good work done by the police reservists saying that they were in a better position to pursue bandits on foot into areas where conventional security personnel cannot penetrate.
By Joshua Kibet
Kabarnet-Kipsaraman road in Baringo set for repairs
