Uasin Gishu County government has spent Sh. 110 million to grade close to 800 kilometres of rural roads in the third quarter of this financial year says Roads, Transport and Public Works County Executive Committee Member, CECM, Engineer Joseph Lagat.
“We have used the small budget to grade close to over 800 kilometres of rural roads and opened100 kilometres of new roads across the county. We are also working on drainage and graveling works,” Eng Lagat added.
Eng Lagat said the budget included an allocation of Sh. 70m for the ongoing grading works and Sh. 40m for maintenance of machinery, he further said that they will enhance the budget next financial year to Sh.90m for fuel and Sh.60m for maintenance of machines to boost the road improvement program in Uasin Gishu.
The ongoing ambitious programme by Governor Jonathan Bii’s administration to open new roads in rural areas and improve the existing ones across all the 30 wards in the county was launched last year with the aim of connecting rural and urban centres and other neighbouring counties to boost trade and economic activities.
According to the CECM, the new roads will not only help facilitate the movement of people and products in the County but will also ensure order and security in most parts.
The CECM said the county was preparing for the devolution conference that will be happening at Eldoret Sports Club, in August and his department was working on drainages, street lighting, and other alternative roads to connect to the venue for free flow of traffic.
“Over 10,000 visitors are expected in Eldoret during the devolution conference and plans have been put in place to manage the entire transport sector including boda boda operators, taxis, and matatu to provide good services to the participants and operationalization of the street lighting,” he added.
Recently during a meeting with employees from the Roads department, Kenya Roads Board, senior officials commended Uasin Gishu County Government for reducing narrow roads drastically by extending their reservoirs to above nine meters.
According to Kenya Roads Board Manager Salome Wamuyele, Uasin Gishu has so far realized over 5,000km of the road network of the total 161,820km implemented by all counties that benefited from the money allocated for road maintenance under the Road Maintenance Levy Fund.
“Our previous survey indicated that Uasin Gishu County government went further to implement roads which are not within the classified regime maintenance by the RMLF but are very critical to the economy and social fabric of any county,” noted Wamuyele.
Wamuyele expressed the need for the Council of Governors to push for the reinstatement of the fund to remain as a conditional fund for the maintenance of roads in counties.
The Kenya Roads Board team was on a countrywide mission to validate Road Inventory and Condition Survey data collected by the county governments to help in the planning and development of road networks.
By Kiptanui Cherono
