President Uhuru Kenyatta has directed Interior CS Fred Matiang’i to ensure that the 63km Kisumu-Mamboleo-Chemelil-Muhoroni road is completed in four months. This comes after several demonstrations by area residents over the poor state of the road.
“We are constructing an international stadium here in Mamboleo and this type of road should not be leading to such a stadium. I will be coming here in April next year and this should be completed by then,” said President Kenyatta during his visit at Jomo Kenyatta International Stadium in Mamboleo.
Nyanza Sugar Belt road
Kisumu-Chemelil-Muhoroni road also known as Nyanza Sugar Belt Road which links the city of Kisumu, to the towns of Miwani, Kibigori, Chemelil, and Muhoroni, in Kisumu and Nandi counties. Two months ago, the government approved Sh 4.9bn for the construction of the road after two decades of neglect.
The road is filled with potholes and motorists have been incurring huge losses in repairing their damaged vehicles. The president’s directive is a huge relief for the Nyanza region’s sugar belt as the road passes near three major millers.
Scope of work
The construction works had already began at the intersection with Kisumu – Kakamega (A1) road in Kisumu at Mamboleo and will progress through Miwani, Chemelil, Muhoroni eventually terminating at Kapsitet junction, where it joins the Kericho -Kisumu road.
The scope of the work mainly involves the resurfacing of the road to class II bitumen standard. Other improvements include the widening of the road to 11 meters, along with the construction of shoulders, culverts, drainage channels, passing lanes, bus stops, and access roads in urban centers. In some sections for example from the Mamboleo/A1 intersection to Great Lakes University, the road will be widened to a dual carriageway.
Upon completion, the 63km road project is expected to open up the region it reverses which has been largely closed out for decades after motorists abandoned the motorway, opting for the smoother Kericho-Kisumu road going through Awasi and Ahero. This will ultimately improve trade in the western region and beyond the border to other East African nations.
The road is also expected to significantly reduce travel time between Kisumu, Nandi, and Kericho counties, thus ensuring faster accessibility and delivery of services.
