The County Government of Turkana has signed Sh.2.8billion Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) agreement with the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) where the County will waive levies and fees charged on construction material for infrastructure projects.
Speaking at the County Offices in Lodwar on Tuesday when he witnessed the signing, Governor Josphat Nanok said the agreement will unlock funding for social infrastructure projects under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) by KeNHA and contractors undertaking the ongoing Lokichar- Nakodok and Kainuk bridge.road projects.
“The unpacking of the agreement begins after this signing and we will ensure that the projects undertaken under the CSR are in line with priorities contained in the County Integrated Development Plan (CIDP), have value addition on the road construction projects that are ongoing and have an impact on residents,” he said.
Apart from waiving fees and royalties required for sourcing and transport of construction material, the County Government has committed to provide land free of charge for social infrastructure projects by KeNHA, including camps for construction companies and other facilities.
Governor Nanok said the agreement to waive fees and other charges contained in the Finance Act was reached after discussions during a summit meeting between Governors and President Kenyatta.
The Governor promised to engage elected leaders on the agreement and build consensus on choice of social infrastructure projects.
The MOU was signed by Chief Officer for Finance Abraham Losinyen and County Secretary, Peter Eripete on behalf of the County Government, while the KeNHA Director General, Eng. Peter Mundinia, had already signed on behalf of the Authority. Assistant Director for Development, Eng. Julius Mak’Odero represented KeNHA during the signing.
Eng. Mak’Odero said the Authority was going beyond the road construction projects to improve lives of communities.
He assured that the road projects were on course for completion but they were seeking for an extension of the construction period from World Bank for completion of the 40km Loichangkamatak- Lokichar stretch.
The County Attorney, Erastus Ethekon said the MOU signing was within the spirit of the Constitution and provided a framework for cooperation and mutual consultation between the parties.
Present at the function were County Executives, Patrick Losike (Infrastructure, Transport and Public Works) and Jennifer Nawoi (Lands, Energy, Housing and Urban Areas Development); Chief Officers Rosemary Nchinyei (Roads) and Rev. Joshua Lemuya (Lands) as well as Stakeholder Liaison Officer Eng. Philemon Kilimo.
By Peter Gitonga
