The county government of Nakuru has received Sh 7billion for infrastructure upgrade. Government Spokesperson Colonel (Retired) Cyrus Oguna confirmed the report and said the money which has been pumped by the National Government is part of the Big Four agenda.
Speaking during verification site tours of public funded projects by the President’s Delivery Unit (PDU) and County Development Implementation Coordination Committee (CDICC) in Naivasha, Gilgil, Njoro and Nakuru East Sub-Counties Colonel (Retired) Oguna stated infrastructure has been given a key focus by the government as it attracts investments in other sectors.
Boost to development stimulus
The projects involve tarmac roads and an airport. The projects will have a direct impact on the manufacturing, horticultural, tourism and hospitality sectors. They will be a boost to development stimulus through reduced transport costs and travel times, reductions in vehicle operating costs and increased speeds.
“The development of big and successful economies has always been connected to infrastructural expansion. Kenya needs substantial investments in its infrastructure sector to achieve growth that is not only robust, but also inclusive and impactful to the community. Developing world-class infrastructure will add to Kenya’s existing strengths in having a young labour force, robust institutions and dynamic entrepreneurs. Building new airports, roads, power plants, ports and other infrastructures is key to spurring economic activity and unlocking opportunities in urban and rural regions across the country and the East African community at large,” said Mr. Oguna.
Mr. Oguna also revealed that most of the projects were complete while more than 70% of work had been done on remaining ones. The projects include the Sh1.5 billion-23 kilometre Gilgil- Machinery road, the Sh1.076 billion-24-kilometre-long Elementaita-Mau Narok Road. Maintenance works were also ongoing on Naivasha-Narok and Mai Mahiu-Narok roads at a cost of Sh289.9 million and Sh288 million respectively.
Promise of additional funding
The Sh398 million upgrade of the Naivasha, Karagita-Kongoni Road that links up Moi South lake region which hosts dozens of camping sites and resorts is set to see a major boost in the tourism sector. The 30-kilometre road leads to more than 30 flower farms, the geothermal rich area of Olkaria, Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) geothermal power plants, geothermal spa and the Hells gate National Park.
The road also serves more than 60 hotels and resorts most of them among the finest in Kenya which dot the serene Lake Naivasha shoreline. The government has also allocated over Sh400 million in the current financial year, for the Sh 3 billion airport upgrade project at the 81 Tank Battalion Barracks in Lanet project with a promise of additional funding in subsequent years.
Phase one of the project will include upgrading the current military airstrip to an airport that will serve both the military and civilians. The facility will handle both commercial and passenger flights from across the country. The strategic investments expected to turn around the County’s fortunes and bolster its revenue base come in the wake of inauguration of the dry port at Naivasha and plan to build industrial parks in Salgaa, Oserian, Kabarak and Njoro. Engineers and surveyors have also been exploring ways of linking the Standard Gauge Railways (SGR) with the old railway at Longonot in Naivasha at the cost Sh3.663 billion.
