Kenya is set to begin construction of the US $18M Taita Taveta road project that had stalled since 2017. Wundanyi MP Danson Mwashako said the implementation of the key road has a long history because the region has been marginalized in terms of infrastructure for many years.
Construction of the road project was to begin four years ago. In May 2019, the Kenya National Highway Authority (Kenha) announced that it would build this road as part of the road pension plan. Kenha announced that the government had already signed the project agreement with the company to pave way for budgeting by Treasury. However, the project ended up stalling due to financial constraints.
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Poor road infrastructure
The road project involves tarmacking of Msau-Mbale-Werugha-Mgange-Bura road. MP Mwashako said the contractor awarded the tender will soon establish a construction site in Wundanyi town to start rehabilitating the road.
The Member of Parliament congressman pointed out that the road infrastructure in the constituency was the worst. Only one kilometre road had been tarmacked since Kenya attained independence in 1963. He said the rehabilitation of the road will be a key opening to the agriculture-rich area to markets in Nairobi and Mombasa cities. It will enable horticultural and dairy farmers in Taita Hills to easily transport farm produce to market centres in Voi and Mombasa.
“My constituency since independence in 1963, has only one kilometre road paved. Taita Taveta road project will be a great deal to us. We are additionally happy that the government is combining the project with construction of power station in Wundanyi town to curb frequent power blackouts experienced in the area,” said Mwashako.
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