Kenya’s North Rift region is set for transformation as a Chinese firm has won the tender to construct the first tarmac road that will extend to South Sudan at a cost of US $20m.
China National Aero-Technology International Engineering Corporation has been contracted to undertake the construction of the 60km road in a region referred to as Kenya’s bread-basket.
According to Ferdinand Wanyonyi, a lawmaker in Kwanza Constituency in Trans Nzoia County, The Kitale-Namanjalala-‘Keriget-Chepchoina road, is intended to link Kenya with South Sudan.The road is expected to be launched next month by Deputy President William Ruto.
Boosting farming activities
Wanyonyi said the US $20m project funded by the national government, is a major boast to farming activities arguing that dilapidated road infrastructure has in the past denied residents the opportunity to market their produce and earn better returns. Kwanza constituency has no tarmacked road and residents use donkeys to transport produce from farms to markets.
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“This is a milestone project. People have suffered because the bad state of the roads especially during rainy season. It is a blessing to my electorates and we expect farming activities to flourish,” said Ferdinand Wanyonyi.
“It has been difficult to transport farm produce to the market and this road is going to boost our farming business,” said Peter Kidelo, a maize farmer from the county .
“Transporting produce from the area has been a nightmare and we are happy that the government considered upgrading the road,” he added.
