Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir has announced that construction of a significant 143-kilometer road connecting the Rift Valley and parts of the Nyanza region will commence in January of next year.
Chirchir made the announcement on June 6 during a public gathering in Bomet County, where he detailed ongoing and planned road initiatives being executed across the region by the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA).
He stated that the project, connecting the four counties of Nakuru, Narok, Bomet, and Migori, will receive funding from the World Bank, noting that preparations are progressing before the start date.
“This is a significant road that will be financed by the World Bank. We anticipate beginning construction by January next year,” Chirchir remarked, adding that the corridor will function as an important regional link.
The World Bank-financed road will extend from Nakuru passing through Elburgon, Molo, Embomoss, Koiwa, and continuing northward to Bomet, terminating in Chebole before proceeding through Chepalungu, Chebunyo, Dikkir, and ultimately reaching Awendo in Migori County.
Tender documents of the project indicate that the 143-kilometer corridor is projected to transform trade between the Rift Valley and Lake Victoria regions by directly connecting tea-producing areas in Kericho and Konoin to sugarcane centers in Awendo and Migori.
The road will also decrease travel time by removing the necessity to detour through Kisumu or Narok, thus reducing fuel expenses, while high-speed fiber optic cables installed underneath it are anticipated to enhance internet connectivity in rural communities.
Remote areas along the corridor are also anticipated to develop into bustling commercial centers, while the paved thoroughfare will allow law enforcement and emergency services to travel efficiently across county boundaries.
During the gathering, CS Chirchir also confirmed that multiple other roads in the county will receive comprehensive rehabilitation through appropriate asphalt application, with contractors already present at the locations.
Chirchir assured residents that the announcements were not simply political declarations, noting that President William Ruto would soon visit the area to formally initiate the programs.
“The contractor is already on site, I have personally spoken with most of the contractors, and we will arrange for the President to visit and launch most of the initiatives in this region,” he stated.
He mentioned that the projects are part of transitioning from a developing to a developed economy under the so-called ‘Singapore Dream’.
The initiative also aims to support the government’s nationwide road development agenda over the coming seven years through the Ksh5 trillion National Infrastructure Fund.