A section of the Kisumu-Miwani-Chemelil-Muhoroni-Kipsitet road undergoing reconstruction/KNA
The construction of the grand 63-kilometre Kisumu-Miwani-Chemelil-Muhoroni-Kipsitet road has resumed in earnest after the government intervened to resolve the payment dispute with the contractors.
Presidential Delivery Unit Director for Western Region, Sylvance Osele, confirmed that the national government has released the funds and the project is now back on track.
The Sh4.9 billion project, which commenced in October 2022 and is funded by the National Treasury, had stalled due to significant budgetary constraints forcing the contractors to leave the site.
"Development projects in the Nyanza region currently have no financial challenges. Actually, the contractors have been paid up to date," Osele said.
"As a national government, there is no money owed to them. But for Mamboleo-Muhoroni-Kipsitet road, there was a problem but some money was sought, and the contractors have been paid, and they are moving back to the site. So we anticipate seeing accelerated work on this project."
He made the remarks during the Nyanza National Development Implementation, Coordination, and Management Committee tour to assess the progress of various national government projects in Kisumu County on Monday.
Nyanza Regional Commissioner Flora Mworoa, who chairs the Committee, noted that the state had awarded the construction contract to three firms, including Sinohydro Company Limited, China Railways Tenth Group, and H-Young Company Limited.
The road project was divided into three slots to shorten the project's duration. Slot 1 runs from Mamboleo junction to Miwani and will be constructed by China Railways Tenth Group.
Slot 2 includes the section from Miwani to Chemelil, while the third slot runs from Chemelil-Kipsitet and will be handled by Sinohydro Company Limited and H-Young Company respectively.
"We were able to visit slot 1 of the road. They are currently at 15 percent completion. The contractor and engineers are back on site. Despite facing some challenges, particularly in terms of his payments, he has promised us that he is not going to stop the work,” Mworoa observed.
Osele is optimistic that the road that traverses the agricultural rich counties of Nandi, Kisumu and Kericho will boost food security, trade and livelihoods, thus spurring economic activities in the region upon completion.
Currently, motorists prefer using the smoother but longer Kericho-Kisumu road passing through Awasi and Ahero towns.
The tarmacking of the Mamboleo-Miwani-Chemelil-Muhoroni-Kipsitet road will hence facilitate reduced travel time for drivers, thereby ensuring faster accessibility and delivery of goods and services.
"The Mamboleo road will ease congestion within Kisumu County. It is going to be like a bypass. Reducing distance and travel time for the lorries that have to go through Ahero all the way. It will be more conducive and save money for the drivers,” stated Osele.