Mombasa County plans to introduce single underground ducting on all roads to curb the damage to roads by various companies when laying cables.
Governor Abdulswamad Nassir said one of the key deliverables of the Department of Roads and Public Works is to draft a dig-smart act that will streamline the laying of cables on roads.
“The County Government either on our own volition or through partnership will put internet ducts in all our roads. Anybody who would like to lay cables will not incur the costs of digging roads. You’ll simply use the ducts that have been put into place then when you are paying for way-leave, you’ll also pay rental,’’ elucidated Governor Nassir.
The Governor said the ducts will prevent the destruction of Mombasa roads by contractors who after laying their underground cables do not repair the roads they have damaged.
The ducts, he added, will put a stop to the damage to roads, “When we are laying water pipes, there will be a line for fiber cables and anyone who would like to use them will simply plug in their cables”, said the governor.
On the Mshomoroni-Mwakirunge road, which is impassable when it rains, the Governor reveals that he has written a letter to Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA) requesting revamping of the road.
“We have pleaded with them; the road cannot be constructed by county government. It needs at least Sh600 million. This is one of the roads that have not received an allocation. The contractor will maintain the road as part of the contract before the commencement of tarmacking,’’ said the Governor.
However, the Governor noted that the National Government has already indicated that it’s having a financial crunch and it therefore cannot do the roads.
On the Central Business District (CBD) roads that require rehabilitation, the Governor said most of them fall under the mandate of the National Government.
He said, “Most CBD roads are for National Government. Unfortunately, with the kinds of infrequent financial disbursements that are happening, it will be impossible to fix those roads on our own. We need at least Sh700 million to rehabilitate CBD roads.”
By Sadik Hassan
