Construction an abandoned section works on Kitui-Kibwezi has resumed. This follows intervention by President Kenyatta to have an additional Sh 3.2billion released to the Chinese contractor.
The government, through the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) approved the variation and extinction of the contract which was awarded to SinoHydro Corporation in December 2016. Kenha has revised the contract which expired in February 15th this year to August 19th, extending the scope of works to cover Kabati – Mbondoni section and provided Sh 3.2billion to allow the contractor to complete the project.
Kenha Director-General Eng Peter Mundinia, directed the Sino Hydro Corporation to ensure that the performance bond and insurance cover for the contract are extended accordingly. The Kibwezi – Kitui -Mwingi road is a crucial piece of infrastructure that is part of the Northern corridor – an international highway holding key to unlocking the economic potential of the Ukambani region.
Vision 2030
Experts say it is central in many ways to the country, especially in the success of Vision 2030, the economic blueprint which aims to make Kenya industrialised in 10 years, because it provides the shortcut from Mombasa to Addis Ababa.
The road project was terminated before reaching Mutonguni market, without connecting the Thika – Garissa highway at Mbondoni junction as earlier planned, leaving a section of about 25 kilometers in a deplorable state. According to Mwingi West MP Charles Nguna, the Sh18.5 billion road project which was meant to connect the Port of Mombasa with eastern and north eastern counties had failed to achieve its full economic purpose of decongesting traffic from Nairobi – Mombasa highway.
“This is a class B road, which had been neglected for several decades and its essence was to connect Mombasa and Kitui, and ease mobility of goods and services across various regions” said Mr Nguna in a letter to Cabinet Secretary for Roads James Macharia.
