Fishers to benefit from 478km Lake Victoria Ring road

The national government has started the construction of the 478 kilometres Lake Victoria ring road which connects the five counties sharing the lake.

Kenya National Highways Authority is undertaking the project and is expected to benefit fisher folk.

One of the major economic activities among the people living in the counties is fishing.

The counties bordering the lake are Homa Bay, Migori, Kisumu, Siaya and Busia.

In Homa Bay, the road will pass through Suba South constituency. 

On Monday, Suba South MP Caroli Omondi hosted officials from KeNHA for an inspection tour of the project site.

The road is expected to promote the development of other infrastructure like improved beaches, better hospitals and markets should it get complete.

“Completion of the road will improve transportation of goods and people. We expect a change of lives of many people and ill open the region to tourism and regional trade,” Omondi said.

KeNHA will undertake the construction of the road in six sections which are categorised into lots based on counties.

KeNHA regional director Julius Mak’Oderoh described the road as a game changer to the region's economy.

He said the road is supposed to bring development to counties along the lake. 

“Access to beaches, schools and hospitals along the lake will be improved. We’re asking the community to collaborate with us to do the road,” Mak’Oderoh said.

KeNHA has started clearing bushes where the road is cleared of any obstacles.

In Suba, the agency is improving sections that were initially impassable by road before the project officially starts.

It is projected that it will officially commence in 18 months.

Mak’Oderoh said the road will be built to international standards.

“The road we’re going to undertake will be classified as B2 with a width of seven meters and a speed range of 80 kilometres per hour,” he added.

The state is also undertaking a 72 kilometres Mbita-Sindo-Kiabuya-Sori road construction.

It is being undertaken by Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA) through China Civil Engineering Construction Company which has three years to complete the project.

The road started more than three years ago but the contractor withdrew from the site. KeRRA will start doing the project again next month.

“The government has promised us to continue constructing the road to completion. We have agreed that labour be provided by residents as they will be prioritised. 

Suba South deputy county commissioner Sebastian Okiring’ told residents to take care of government infrastructure.

“Involving residents in the construction makes them part of the project,” the administrator said.