Leaders from Turkana County on Tuesday held a meeting in Lodwar with representatives from the World Bank and the Kenya National Highway Authority (KeNHA) to validate Sh 2.9 billion social amenity projects that will be implemented in the region as part of the Authority’s corporate social responsibility.
The social amenity projects will be implemented in the six constituencies of the county where the authority is constructing a Sh 38 billion, 338 km road from Lokichar to Nakodok, at the Kenya-South Sudan border.
Deputy Director Eastern Africa Regional Transport, Trade and Development Facilitation Project (EARTTDFP) Engineer John Kindika said the project is 65 percent complete and runs from Eldoret to Nakodok on the border of South Sudan.
Eng Kindika said the road also includes a fibre optic cable that will cost Sh 1.1 billion while social amenities will cost Sh 2.9 billion.
“The project includes the A1 highway construction from Eldoret to Nakodok and a 630km fibre optic cable that will increase internet connectivity in the region,” he said.
On Monday, the leaders discussed the projects that have been prioritized through a consultant.
Governor Josphat Nanok said the county had signed a memorandum of understanding with KeNHA that saw the county waive excess fees for construction materials amounting to Sh1 billion and in return the authority agreed to support the social amenity projects.
Nanok said the whole leadership of the county was in agreement and that would help in ensuring the ownership of the projects by the locals.
“Water provision at about 40 percent of the entire amount provided would take a huge chunk of the budget. Other projects are markets, parking bays, health sector, food security, education among others,” he said.
He said the implementation of the social amenity projects would kick off early next year and be completed before the contract for the road construction comes to an end next year.
He particularly lauded the fibre optic cable that will be among the fastest internet connectivity in the country.
The Governor commended the county government leadership and area members of the national assembly and members of the county assembly for supporting the projects.
By Peter Gitonga
