Kisumu County Government has set aside Sh20 million this financial year to upgrade earth roads using modern technology to ease movement of people and goods in the area.
Roads County Executive Committee Member (CECM) Ms Joyce Osogo said the technology being introduced by Claycrete Company which is operating in nine African countries was a long term solution to perennial destruction of the road network in the lakeside county.
Osogo said the county government has signed a memorandum of understanding with the company to apply the technology across the county starting this financial year.
Speaking during the commissioning of Guba-Gita-Number-Kabong’o filter road, in Kisumu East Sub County, Osogo said the company has been contracted to do the 7.5Km stretch which is expected to pave way for similar projects across the county. The technology which involves use of clay materials and concrete, she said, shall save the county from costly repairs. “With this technology, we are sure that the roads will last for 10 years without any major repairs,” she said.
The department of roads, she said has procured state of the art machinery adding that establishment of road maintenance teams was on course with the personnel expected to be absorbed soon to ensure proper and regular maintenance of roads in the area.
Claycrete Regional Managing Director (MD) Mr Wycliffe Shilaho said through the partnership, the company has embarked on construction of a 1km section of the road to demonstrate effectiveness of the technology.
The technology introduced in Canada in 1995, he said was cost effective since it takes Sh1.5 million to do 1km.
The company, he disclosed, has carried out successful projects of similar nature in Malawi, Zambia, South Africa, Uganda and Rwanda.
In Kenya, he said the company has undertaken projects in Makueni and Nandi urging other county governments to take up the technology to boost the road network in the country.
By Lorine Awino and Chris Mahandara
