Eyebrows as government leaves out roads in Raila’s backyard amid claims of sabotage
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KeNHA leaves out roads in Nyanza region, Raila's backyard in maintainance tenders
KeNHA leaves out roads in Nyanza region, Raila’s backyard in maintainance tenders.
Major roads and bridges in the Nyanza region are conspicuously missing in the latest Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) floated tenders for road maintenance released on August 15.
For the first and second quarters of the Financial Year 2023–2024, KeNHA has specified 165 roadworks that will be carried out throughout 11 regions.
However roads in Raila Odinga’s political stronghold have not been included in the list.
In a region where many roads are in poor condition, the road agency has only identified one route that runs from Kisii to Kadongo and extends to Ahero.
KeNHA has designated a total of 40 road infrastructure in Rift Valley, the home backyard of President William Ruto, to be maintained.
South Rift will have 10 roads developed while North Rift 30 roads.
A total of 37 roads in Mt Kenya, the home region of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, would be maintained with taxpayer funds.
Of the highways planned, 11 will be in Central and the remaining are in Upper Eastern, which includes the counties of Meru, Tharaka Nithi, and Embu.
In North Eastern, the government will recarpet 37 roads. The region has one of the highest shares of road development under KeNHA.
KeNHA will do 22 roadwork maintenances in Lower Eastern, which includes Kitui, Makueni, and Machakos Counties.
Ten of the highways in the western region are designated for maintenance, compared to only six in the coast region.
KeNHA has also earmarked two roads for maintenance at Headquarters and six roads in Nairobi.
At Headquarters, KeNHA has invited tenders for consultancy services for construction supervision of the New Tana River Bridge and approach Roads along UkasiGarissa-Modika (A3) Road and its construction.
Mariakani -Kwa Jomvu (A8) Road in the Coast Region will also given a framework contract for handling emergencies.
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Meanwhile, a lobby group Linda Ugatuzi announced that it would be petitioning the parliament on why Nyanza was left out.
“Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua warned us that if legislators did not vote for Finance Bill, there would be no development. Is the government living true to its threat?” the group’s director Prof Fred Ogola posed.
The Professor further noted that Nyanza deserved its share of development considering that the region contributed to fuel levies like every other part of the country.
Should Parliament not urgently take up the matter, Ogola threatened to escalate the matter to the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC).
This comes as Azimio accuses Ruto of economic sabotage in its backyard following the closure of sugar factories in Nyanza and Western.
National Assembly Minority leader Opiyo Wandayi stated during a press conference at the Parliament Buildings that the Agriculture and Food Authority’s directive is intended to destroy the region’s economy and demanded to be immediately revoked.
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