Kenya National Highway Authority (KENHA) has given the contractor working on expansion of a 6 kilometer stretch from Busia town to Korinda junction along Kisumu road six weeks to complete the work or risk losing the tender.
Busia county executive committee member in charge of roads and public work, Engineer Andrew Meso, after meeting with KENHA regional directors, Mr. Meso noted that the work has been derailing for months since the tender was awarded.
“We had a short meeting with directors from Kenya National Highway Authority who came to check on the progress of the construction going on the road from Korinda junction to Busia border point. Their presence is to try and accelerate the work of the contractor.”
The contractor has also been given the duration of six weeks to complete the work and if the period will elapse, he risks losing the tender,” he noted
According to him, expanding the stretch will ease congestion by heavy trucks that line up along the road in town waiting to be cleared to Uganda and beyond.
“The completion of this road will ease traffic congestion in town compared to the current situation. We will also have designated areas for pedestrians and those using bikes and motorbikes and also a proper drainage system.
“We are in talks with our Ugandan counterparts to see how we can connect the drainage system from here to the one in Uganda being that we are along the border, we can’t do this alone without involving our neighbors,” he said
Mr Meso noted that after completing the project the county government intends to plant more trees on both sides of the road as a way of beautifying the town.
“Through department of urban development, we plan to plant trees along the roads after the project is completed, as way of beautifying the town so that when you walk through the town from Korinda you experience green environment to suit the environment of the urban setup,” he noted
This comes a week after the visit of president William Ruto in Busia town for a prayer meeting where he promised to make sure that the road from Korinda junction to Busia border is completed within the shortest time possible.
Busia governor Dr Paul Otuoma has maintained that he will work with the National government to achieve development in the county.
In recent meetings Dr Otuoma has been dismissing those criticizing him for working with the National government, adding that there is no way Busia County will remain behind in development just because he was voted on Azimio ticket.
IAN BYRON