Young and upcoming contractors who bid and won tenders to implement various road projects in the thirty wards in Uasin Gishu county have been lauded for showing a lot of commitment and hard work in delivering quality work.
The County Director Roads, Engineer Benjamin Kirongo, commended the youthful contractors saying they had shown and proved that they were capable of successfully implementing contracts awarded to them adding that the upcoming contractors had also proven that they have improved their capacity to manage bigger projects if given more opportunities by the government.
Kirongo made the observation while on an inspection tour of the ongoing construction of bridges connecting various rural access roads within the county. Among the bridges inspected was the Simat-Chepkongi bridge which is at 90 percent into completion.
He lauded the contractors who were awarded road project improvement in the county saying they had shown commitment and good work that has seen most of the roads made passable, especially in rural areas.
A section of residents confirmed the road improvement projects have had a huge impact in terms of accessibility with farmers now able to deliver their crop products to markets throughout the seasons.
According to Kirongo, 60 bridges have been constructed in Uasin Gishu County since the inception of the devolved system of governance with more road networks earmarked for completion in a move aimed at enhancing rural-urban connectivity to boost agricultural activities.
Road engineers from the county also inspected the ongoing construction of 12 other new bridges being undertaken during the 2021/22 financial year of which four have already been completed and now awaiting commissioning.
Kong’asis /Kiluka Box Culvert in Kaptagat ward is at 96%, Kaoni Box culvert is currently at 65% while Bodalands and Kamoson in Kapseret Sub County are complete and in use.
“My team of engineers has also inspected the ongoing works of the installation of nine culverts in Megun ward, Kapseret Sub County, most of this work is being implemented by young contractors who are doing a commendable job,” said roads Chief Officer, Julius Rotich in an interview.
Uasin Gishu residents drawn from Soy Ward in Soy Sub County and Karuna/ Meibeki ward thanked outgoing governor Jackson Mandago’s administration for the speedy construction of the Vumilia Box Culvert connecting Vumilia to Simbi in Soy Ward and Cheplasgei-Kong’nyalil (Lewoi) Box Culvert in Karuna Meibeki ward, in Moiben Sub County, currently 90% complete.
During an inspection exercise of the two projects which are among the 12 bridges under construction across the County this financial year, residents of Soy Sub County thanked the Departments of Roads, Transport, Energy and Public Works, and Finance officers for the speedy implementation of the projects.
The works by the young contractors included drainage, grading, and graveling of new roads in agricultural areas to ease connectivity. Some of the bridges already commissioned are Kaprorio-Kapchesogor (Sergoit ward) and Saina Box Culvert (Kapseret /Simat ward)
Others that have been operationalized are Cheukta-Ng’eny (Segero/Barsombe ward), Chepsaita-Ng’enyilel Box Culvert (Ng’enyilel ward), Kabitoi -Tendwo (Tembelio/Kaptagat ward).
They also include Kapsaos-Kapkoros (Kapsaos ward), Kapkeno -Timor (Ainabkoi/Olare ward), Kamoson in Ngeria ward, and the Chelasgei-Kapkoros bridge in Karuna/Meibeki, Bodalands – Chelabal Box Culvert in Ngeria ward and Kamoson box culvert in Kapseret/Simat.
In the Financial Year 2020/2021, the County Government also undertook the construction of bitumen standard roads within Maili Nne, Burnt Forest, and Kuinet under the stage construction programme.
By Kiptanui Cherono
