- Some residents who spoke to the Star are wondering if the road was constructed to bring development to the region or for political reasons.
- A boda boda operator from Mwangoni, Chaka Beja, said the potholes pose a great risk to motorbike users.
Image: SHABAN OMAR
Barely two years after the completion of the 53-kilometre Samburu-Kinango highway, the road has already developed potholes, the residents have said.
The new road, which was built at a cost of Sh2 billion, was poised to change the region’s economic fortunes through increased tourism activities, transport and other businesses.
The road connects Kwale county to Mombasa- Nairobi highway at Samburu and runs all the way to Kinango town, where the remaining 29-kilometre stretch from Kinango to Kwale town has stalled due to lack of funding.
In June this year, the contractor left the site, leaving the road unattended.
Since the Samburu-Kinango 53-kilometre stretch was completed, Kinango has been gradually transforming as businesses are booming along the road. The area had remained undeveloped for decades.
Previously, the public service vehicles plying the Samburu-Kinango route used to complain about the high cost of operations due to wear and tear of the vehicles because of bad roads.
However, as the residents continue to enjoy the fruits of the newly tarmacked road, questions have been raised about the road's durability.
Some residents who spoke to the Star are wondering if the road was constructed to bring development to the region or for political reasons.
“Already some areas are peeling off and potholes are everywhere, despite the fact that millions were spent on the road,” Kusi Tsuma, a Vigurungani resident, said.
Tsuma expressed doubts that if the road can withstand heavy commercial vehicles once the Kwale-Kinango road is completed.
"Imagine we have potholes and only a few vehicles are using it, what if all heavily loaded vehicles start plying this route?" he said.
Another resident from Bang'a, Oscar Ndurya, said it is worrying to see a multi-billion road wearing off quickly. He said it looks like the construction was hastened for political reasons.
"What is this now? The layer of the road is very thin. If it rains heavily and consistently, the tarmac is likely to be swept away," he said.
Ndurya urged the government to ensure quality roads are constructed and not just any roads. He said the potholes are currently few but they are going to broaden into big holes if not repaired on time.
A boda boda operator from Mwangoni, Chaka Beja, said the potholes pose a great risk to motorbike users.
He said many boda boda youths are always speeding and can accidentally knock the potholes, causing a disaster.
However, Kwale Kenya Rural Roads Authority regional director Onesmus Ikua said they are planning to do the Performance-Based Routine Maintenance of the Samburu-Kinango road.
He said the same contractor who built the first phase of the road has the second phase of the contract to upgrade the road.
"People should not worry because the second phase includes the PBRM for all the newly-constructed roads and low volume series," he said.
Ikua said they are also doing rehabilitation works and putting proper road signage, marks and standard speed bumps on other Kwale roads to improve safety.
He, however, decried increased vandalism of road equipment, urging the residents and motorists to report anyone destroying the road signage and observe traffic rules to prevent accidents.
According to the Kenya National Highway Authority Coast region representative Peter Maruti, the 29-kilometre stretch from Kinango to Kwale town stalled due to lack of funding.
He said the road is still on the earthworks, but it is expected to continue following President William Ruto's promise to complete major roads in Kwale.
"The challenge is funding because the contractor wanted a lot of money, but we are optimistic things will be sorted out following the President's directive," Maruti said in an interview in Ukunda.
President Ruto spoke last month in Samburu while commissioning the Sh50 billion Devki Steel Mills Factory.
The government had awarded the road construction tender to China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation.
The long-term goal is to connect Samburu with the Mombasa-Lunga-Lunga highway through Kwale- Kombani and ease congestion at the Likoni ferry channel.
(edited by Amol Awuor)