The construction of a 36 km road from Marikebuni-Sosoni to Mafara in Magarini Sub County to the tune of ksh 1.4 billion is 40 % complete.
The road which was factored in the 2018/2019 financial year is almost half way completed.
Speaking to the press at Kilifi town Thursday, Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KERRA) Kilifi County Eng. Kenneth Muriuki said since the contractor started the construction works, he has been paid a total of Sh582million after doing 13kms out the 36kms work.
Eng. Muriuki was responding to remarks made by the Kilif County Commissioner Mr. Magu Mutindika who said the road works on the 36 kms distance was behind schedule because the contractor had stopped the construction works in the month of April hence, the road works were grounded.
Mutindika had urged the KERRA boss to allow the County Development Implementation Committee team to tour the road construction works in Magarini Sub County in order to establish the true status of the roads works on the ground.
However, Eng. Muriuki said the construction works on the 36kms road stopped for only two weeks in the month of April this year after workers on the road had refused to work because the contractor had failed to pay them on time.
The KERRA boss also said the workers were later paid by the contractor and the work resumed immediately.
Eng. Muriuki further said the contractor was on schedule and by the end of the financial year 2019/2020, the road construction on the 36kms road would have been completed.
By Simon Guruba
