Uasin Gishu MCAs have given thumps up to Governor Jonathan Bii’s upgrading plan for more than 1,000 kilometres of roads in the region ahead of the August devolution conference to be held in Eldoret.
Bii’s team has already upgraded more than 800 kilometres to help catalyse trade and agriculture activities along with preparations for the devolution conference.
The governor says the town will host more than 10,000 guests for the conference and plans are underway to provide a conducive environment for the week-long event that will also be graced by President William Ruto.
“We are working with our business community and all other stakeholders to ensure successful hosting of the devolution conference,” Bii said.
Teams from the Council of Governors are in the town to inspect preparations for the event.
The county department of roads and transport management team held a collaborative meeting with the county assembly roads and transport committee members to deliberate on ways to work closely for enhanced service delivery.
The team from the department was led by Roads executive Joseph Lagat while the committee was led by its chairperson Gilbert Chepkonga who is MCA Ainabkoi/Olare ward and leader of majority Julius Sang MCA Megun ward.
The teams discussed key issues on road projects inspection procedures, reinstatement of all heavy machines, managing and sustaining of service providers, collaboration during the project implementation process and allocation of funds for fuel.
"As a department, we have made significant progress by paying all the pending bills to our service providers in the roads sector to help improve their confidence in working with us," Lagat said.
Chepkonga pledged to the roads team that they are ready to support all measures to make service providers happy for the department to achieve its targets.
"We want to collaborate to ensure timely payment for contractors and avoid unnecessary delays so that implementation of road projects can be expedited," Chepkonga said.
Chief Officer for roads Abraham Kiptalam said they have taken action to rehabilitate all machinery that had broken down.
The county team handed over a document detailing all areas that will require collaboration and support for better execution and implementation of projects onwards.
Sang said they were happy with the work being undertaken by governor Bii’s administration to improve roads in all wards and within the Eldoret CBD.
“The work being done by our governor on roads will ensure both our farmers and the business community have a good environment to enhance economic activities that will spur growth of our region,” Sang said.