Construction of the 530 kilometer Lamu-Isiolo road is set to begin in four months with the road design finally completed.
The construction was supposed to begin in August after the government secured Sh.62 billion from The Development Bank of South Africa but it delayed due to late release of the funds.
According to LAPSSET Director General, Sylvester Kasuku who spoke to KNA on Sunday evening in Kililana area, once complete, the road will open up the formally marginalised northern frontier counties and boost trade between Kenya and neighbouring Ethiopia and South Sudan.
He also stated that the road being constructed by a South African firm Raubeck Construction will complement the Lamu Port and lead to creation of thousands of both direct and indirect jobs in various fields such as agriculture, fishing, manufacturing, logistics, transport, trade and commerce.
“The infrastructure links that the Lamu- Isiolo Road will provide to neighbouring countries will foster trade and lead to regional economic development,” Kasuku said adding the road will be completed in four years.
The KENHA Deputy Director Head of PPP Department, Eng. George Kiiru who spoke to KNA in Lamu, earlier expressed optimism that the road would help improve the socio economic profile of the areas through which it will pass.
“The road design and plan has been discussed extensively and determined that it should pass in areas that were previously marginalized,” Kiiru stated.
By Amenya Ochieng
