Murkomen Responds To Senators Questions Regarding Various Roads In The Country
Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen addressing the Senate yesterday
_….The Cabinet Secretary Also Gave The Senate The Status Of Upgrading Kakamega Airstrip To An International Airport Durimg The Session That Saw Senator Cheragei Kicked Out Of The Chambers*
By Our Correspondent
Worth Noting:
- This will be done under the current Performance Based Routine Maintenance contract and continued under the Ministry’s regular maintenance programme. The CS clarified that the Ministry of Roads and Transport through KeNHA has plans to upgrade the Isinya-Konza Road to bitumen standards and has completed the design and tender documents.
- Mwenda Gataya Mo’Fire of Tharaka Nithi County asked to know why the construction of Kajiunduthi-Iriga-Chogoria-Weru-Mutindwa-Kiriani- Marima Road has stalled since 2016.
- The CS reported that the road stalled in 2021 following the withdrawal of the Contractor’s Assignee, citing non-payment of certificates.
The Cabinet Secretary for Roads and Transport Hon. Kipchumba Murkomen yesterday appeared before the Senate to respond to queries on status of various roads in the country and the status of upgrading Kakamega Airstrip to an international Airport.
The first set of questions asked by Sen. Peris Tobiko required the Cabinet Secretary to state whether he was aware of the absence of speed bumps at crucial locations along the route from Imaroro to Isara in Kajiado County, particularly around market centers, schools and near bridges, which has contributed to numerous accidents in these areas, plans to erect speed bumps strategically along the route; and also respond on the upgrade of Isinya- Konza Road to bitumen standard.
Murkomen informed the House that the Ministry through Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA) installed speed reduction measures in form of road bumps, rumble strips, speed control signage and warning signs along the Imaroro- Mashuru- Isara Road project during the construction phase. Nonetheless, the Ministry through KeRRA is carrying out a detailed assessment of the possible locations where there is need to institute speed control measures that have arisen from new developments along the road projects, for necessary interventions that will include erection of road bumps, rumble strips, road safety signages, zebra crossing among other requirements.
This will be done under the current Performance Based Routine Maintenance contract and continued under the Ministry’s regular maintenance programme. The CS clarified that the Ministry of Roads and Transport through KeNHA has plans to upgrade the Isinya-Konza Road to bitumen standards and has completed the design and tender documents.
Sen. Mwenda Gataya Mo’Fire of Tharaka Nithi County asked to know why the construction of Kajiunduthi-Iriga-Chogoria-Weru-Mutindwa-Kiriani- Marima Road has stalled since 2016.
The CS reported that the road stalled in 2021 following the withdrawal of the Contractor’s Assignee, citing non-payment of certificates.
The Ministry has since advised the Contractor to resume works and ensure completion of the project by 30th June 2024 subject to adequate budgetary provisions and sustainable disbursements.
Kirinyaga County Senator, James Murango sought to know why the project for the upgrading to bitumen standard of Mururi-Unamandi- Ngucui-Mahigaiini- Nyamindi- Kianugu- Kiumbu Road has not commenced despite the award of the contract.
Murkomen informed the Senators that the road project has commenced though the progress is slower than anticipated due to several challenges including financial constraint and adverse weather at some sections of the project.
A budget of KSh240 million has been provided to facilitate completion of this project by 16th July 2024.
Sen. Murango also wanted to know the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities done by the contractors undertaking road construction projects in Kirinyaga County and whether the contractor through the Ministry of Education could consider making infrastructural improvements in at least one public primary and secondary school in the project area.
The CS clarified that while CSR is purely voluntary, there are several CSR initiatives that have been undertaken in Kirinyaga County by respective contractors at projects supervised by the Ministry’s Agencies.
Responding to the question on the status of upgrading Kakamega Airstrip to an International Airport, the CS informed the House that Kakamega Airstrip was initially designed for DHC 6 aircraft with capacity of 13 passengers as the critical aircraft and was to be upgraded to accommodate Fokker 50 aircraft (60-seater).
The biggest aircraft currently operating the Airstrip has a capacity of 37 passengers. Based on the design aircraft and considering the topographical and environmental constraints, studies conducted by Kenya Airport Authority indicate that the runway can only be extended up to a maximum of 1,400m.
Ultimately, if the future traffic may necessitate bigger aircrafts requiring a longer runway, the airport relocation is to be considered.
This will require acquisition of approximately 20 Ha of land to allow development of critical facilities as well as comply with the International Civil Aviation Organization standards.
Marsabit County Senator, Mohamed Chute sought to know the interim measures the Ministry has put in place to deal with the havoc that the elnino rains are wrecking on roads specifically in Marsabit County as this has affected the supply of essential commodities such as food to the residents of Marsabit County.
CS Murkomen stated that all the Ministries are working together to respond to the effects of elnino rains.
The Ministry of Roads and transport is dealing with the infrastructure challenges but there is not so much they can do at the moment regarding construction of the roads since the rains are still ongoing, however, KeNHA has been appointed as the lead emergency response agency to help in opening the roads in the affected areas in the Country.
The CS urged the Senators to sensitize Kenyans both motorists and pedestrians to remain vigilant during this rainy season and to stop crossing swollen rivers to avoid loss of lives. He told the Senate that essential commodities will be airlifted to the affected areas to ensure that the affected persons do not suffer.
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