Ksh1billion needed to repair railway damage caused by floods; CS Murkomen
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Transport CS Murkomen it will cost the country about Ksh.1 billion to repair the damage on the railway caused by floods
Transport CS Murkomen it will cost the country about Ksh.1 billion to repair the damage on the railway caused by floods.
The government has projected that restoring the Meter Gauge Railway at Longonot damaged by recent floods could cost up to a billion shillings.
Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen highlighted the extensive destruction during an inspection tour Friday.
He noted that an ongoing assessment would help determine the precise financial burden on taxpayers.
“We have not done the total computation but as you can see the destruction is massive and so we require a sizeable amount of investment to restore it,” Murkomen said.
His tour is part of the broader evaluation of the damages inflicted by the heavy rains on vital transport infrastructure.
According to Murkomen, a total of Sh30 billion is needed for the damaged roads and bridges across the country.
At least five sections of the railway from Rironi to Longonot, he said, were cut off by the rains.
CS Murkomen could not, however, provide the specific timelines on when the works are set to be completed only emphasising its significance.
He noted that the restoration of the line was urgent in order to retain the Northern corridor as the most attractive transport route.
This, as he, acknowledged the negative impact that has been caused by the disconnect in transportation of cargo from Mombasa to Kampala.
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He said this will depend on the resources that will be availed by the Treasury for the purpose.
“There is no point to complete this particular part yet we have not restored the other four sections. The proper timeline to provide to the Kenyans is the complete restoration of the line,” he stated.
At the site, earth movers have been deployed to clear the debris ahead of the commencement of the works.
Murkomen was accompanied by Transport Principal Secretary Mohamed Daghar and Kenya Railways Managing Director Philip Mainga among other leaders.
Earlier on, the CS addressed families of those killed during the recent tragedy at Kijabe where he assured them of government’s support.
He said there are plans to put in place mitigating measures to avert future occurrences.
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