Sh20 billion set aside to upgrade 350 kilometres of roads in Kericho

By Gilbert Mutai (KNA)

The Government is cosntructing more than 350 kilometres of roads in Kericho County at an estimated cost of Sh20 billion.

Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir said the investment is aimed at improving connectivity, easing the movement of people and goods, and enhancing access to markets, particularly for farmers and traders who depend on reliable transport networks to sustain their livelihoods.

Speaking to residents at Makutano in Londiani Sub-County during a demonstrative tree-planting exercise to mark Mazingira Day, the Cabinet Secretary said the projects form part of the Government's broader infrastructure development agenda intended to address transport challenges and stimulate economic growth.

He emphasised improved roads would enable farmers to transport agricultural produce more efficiently, reduce difficulties associated with poor transport networks and strengthen links between rural communities, markets and commercial centres.

 “We need to deliver those programmes so that our people can access markets, our goods can access markets and our people can move easily,” Chirchir said.

He cited the Makutano–Londiani road as an example of an ongoing project whose progress was visible to residents, urging Kenyans to assess development programmes based on their implementation and the benefits they deliver to communities.

The CS said the Government is undertaking road works covering more than 12,000 kilometres nationally, underscoring the importance of infrastructure development in improving connectivity and supporting economic activities across the country.

He called on contractors to work closely with relevant government agencies and other stakeholders to ensure that the projects are completed on schedule.

Chirchir noted that cooperation among contractors, government departments and local stakeholders is essential to maintaining progress and ensuring that the intended benefits of public investment reach residents.

He said the success of the road programme would ultimately be measured by its impact on people's daily lives, including easier access to markets, improved transportation of goods and more convenient journeys between settlements and service centres.

Reliable roads, he added, would help farmers move their produce to buyers, enable traders to transport merchandise and improve access to essential services for communities across the county.

The Cabinet Secretary linked infrastructure development to the Government's wider efforts to improve livelihoods, saying investments in transport complement other development programmes, particularly those targeting water supply, irrigation and food security.