Traffic congestion in Busia is expected to ease after the Kenya National Highways Authority started rehabilitating and dualing the Busia-Kisumu highway.
Congestion on the trunk road, which connects the border town of Busia to the Great Lakes Region, has been the order of the day.
The problem results from transit trucks that pile up awaiting clearance at the Busia One Stop Border Post.
Commuters, traders and the Busia county government have been pressuring the national government to rehabilitate the road.
The scope of work will involve expansion and re-carpeting of the 40km highway from Amukura House to Ugunja in Siaya county.
Kenha is already opening up the road for construction, with bush clearing and building of storm water drainage ongoing.
Busia Governor Sospeter Ojaamong said the journey to the dualing of the road started in 2015 when he hosted then British High Commissioner Christian Turner. He said the High Commissioner offered to help improve the road with a donation of Sh300 million from the British government.
Ojaamong said his government will engage with the British High Commission, the US ambassador, Trademark East Africa and any willing donors to extend the dualing of the busy highway.
"The Busia-Kisumu highway, especially near the OSBP, is in a pathetic state. Residents turned to social media to condemn the county government and yet it's managed by the national government," he said.
Matatus and long-distance truck drivers welcomed the development, saying their cry has been heard after many years.
With expansion works already in progress, many businessmen whose structures had encroached on reserve land, including some leading hotels, risk having them pulled down. Those affected have already received notices to move.
Edited by A.N