Kenya, Uganda in joint road tarmacking project
A tractor is stuck in the mud on the Suam-Endebess-Kitale road in Kwanza, Trans Nzoia County. The Kenyan and Ugandan governments are working jointly to tarmac a highway joining the two countries. The road will open up the Suam border that links Kenya and Uganda. FILE PHOTO | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Once complete, the highway is expected to spur economic development on both sides of the border between the two East African countries.
- Governor Patrick Khaemba had earlier called for the tarmacking of the road to open up the Suam border that links Kenya and Uganda.
- Khaemba said plans to have 100 acres of the forest at the Kenya-Ugandan border in Suam converted to a market can only be successful if the highway is tarmacked.
The Kenyan and Ugandan governments are working jointly to tarmac a highway linking the two countries.
Once complete, the highway is expected to spur economic development on both sides of the border between the two East African countries.
Speaking in Trans Nzoia, Roads Cabinet Secretary Michael Kamau said the two governments are in a joint project to have the highway from Kitale in Kenya to Kapchorwa in Uganda tarmacked.
“We are working with the African Development Bank to see to it that the highway, which is currently a rough road, is tarmacked,” Mr Kamau said in Kitale.
Trans Nzoia Governor Patrick Khaemba had earlier called for the tarmacking of the road to open up the Suam border that links Kenya and Uganda.
“Our plans to have 100 acres of the forest at the Kenya-Ugandan border in Suam converted into a market can only be successful if the highway is tarmacked,” said Governor Khaemba.
DISMISSED OPPOSITION CLAIMS
The Cabinet secretary also dismissed claims by the opposition that the government had favoured central Kenya in the construction of the road network.
Saboti MP David Wafula echoed his words, saying that the claims by the opposition regarding the road sector are only intended for their own political gains.
“I have personally had a chance to travel to parts of central Kenya, like Kirinyaga, and claims that the road network in the region is so wonderful are lies,” said Mr Wafula.
He also challenged governors to hold their horses in their clamour to have all road functions devolved, saying they should wait for parliamentary legislation on the matter.
“We challenge the governors to stop engaging us in legal battles and instead wait for the outcome of the Bill currently before Parliament,” said Mr Kamau.
The Cabinet secretary, who was to commission a bridge at Motosiet in Cherang’any, was accompanied by Senator Zipporah Kittony, MP David Wafula and Trans Nzoia women rep Janet Nangabo.
