The national government through the Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA) has spent over Sh1.64 billion to upgrade roads in Vihiga county in the past 6 years.
KeRRA Regional Manager Eng. Michael Outa said the funds were mainly used to upgrade the key murram roads to bitumen standard with a view to improving transportation of people and goods across the county.
The KeRRA Manager however told this reporter that the implementation of the projects has not been spared from the challenges.
Eng Outa disclosed that they have been overseeing the execution of five projects that were in various stages of physical progress and that four of them were behind schedule due to the delay in payment of funds to contractors.
He pointed out that Ekwanda-Luanda-Esirulo road was at 95 percent progress and was allocated a contract sum of Sh877 million but so far, the contractor has not received any payment.
The manager further stated that the rehabilitation works on Stendikisa-Luanda road were at 51 percent progress and the contractor is owed over Sh356 million.
The Gisambai-Hamisi-Senende stretch is at 96 percent blacktop and has drastically eased the movement of people and goods in the area.
The other strategic roads being upgraded include Mbale-Mbihi-Magada-Wamilabi and the Mago-Mululu-Wangulu that are at 11.33 and 4.20 percent progress, respectively.
By Sammy Mwibanda
