Saturday 28 June 2014

Mutua one-ups his peers with new road

The 33-kilometer road was built at a cost of Sh650 million over just three months. The road acts a critical linkage cutting across Machakos county, joining Garissa road to the Machakos-Kitui Road/MARGARET WAHITO
The 33-kilometer road was built at a cost of Sh650 million over just three months. The road acts a critical linkage cutting across Machakos county, joining Garissa road to the Machakos-Kitui Road/MARGARET WAHITO

NAIROBI, Kenya, June 26 – Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua has officially opened the newly tarmacked Makutano ma Mwala to Kithimani road, the first road to be constructed by a county government. The 33-kilometer road was built at a cost of Sh650 million over just three months. The road acts a critical linkage cutting across Machakos county, joining Garissa road to the Machakos-Kitui Road.
Speaking during the official opening on Thursday, Mutua said the link road is considered important for economic development not only in the county but for the country as a whole.
“The original Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) estimate cost for the construction of the road was Sh1.6 billion. Machakos government has used a third of that estimate,” Mutua said.
The road was constructed by 11 contractors, each doing three kilometers, which Mutua attributes to be the reason for the faster completion.
They include Lirona Contractors, Welldan Contractors, Zoar Contractors, Mattan Contractors, Salan Contractors and Wak Contractors.
Others are Gragab Agencies, Sinot Construction Limited, Sivad Construction Limited, Ndaisi General Merchants Company and Katsran Limited.
“Had it been awarded to a single contractor, the road would have taken a minimum of three to four years,” Mutua said.
The road was fully funded using the County’s funds.
The county has also installed CCTV Cameras and street lights covering the entire length of the road. “The street lights feature 28 transformers and have also provided electricity to towns and homes along the road.”
The opening event was graced by several leaders including the majority leader in the National Assembly Aden Duale who called on all the governors to focus on development of their counties and do less politics.
“This road is not for Machakos alone, but also for me and others when gong home to Garissa and the general Northern Kenya. Others keep complaining about the money, yet others are using the little they have to help Kenyans,” Duale said.
“If we keep doing politics, we will kill devolution,” he added.

BY MARGARET WAHITO

Margaret has been a business reporter for the past three years. She is currently pursuing a degree in Communications and Public Relations at Moi University. She holds a diploma in film and video production from the Kenya institute of Mass Communications. Apart from journalism, she has interest in community work, especially helping the disadvantaged.

No comments:

Post a Comment