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Transport

Rehabilitation of Wote Estates Roads Kicks off

The Department of Transport and Infrastructure in Makueni has launched a two-week Estate Roads rehabilitation program in Wote town to ease transportation and open up the areas for business opportunities.
The program entails grading, murraming and compacting of the targeted roads. By end of the two weeks, the department will have graded 29km of road network.
County Executive Committee Member for Transport Sebastian Kyoni flanked by Wote Ward MCA Felix Mateso and Wote Municipality Manager Joseph Katumo flagged off the exercise on Wednesday.
Some of the Estates targeted for opening up include Town area, Shimo, Calosci, Nguumo/Malawi, Kundakindu, Slaughter, Westlands, Kasarani and Bangladesh.
Kyoni said the county government is in talks with Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) for partnership to progressively upgrade the roads to bitumen standards.

KeNHA to partner with Makueni in revamping road safety measures

The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) is seeking to partner with Makueni in a move to improve road safety measures on all roads that fall within the KeNHA purview in the county.

This was revealed today following a courtesy call by KeNHA Lower Eastern Regional Director Eng. James Kariuki to H.E Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jnr.

Eng. Kariuki said that they were embarking on various interventions towards ensuring that the roads are safer for users in Makueni.

Some of the proposed areas of collaboration include: rolling out tree-planting exercises along the roads, joint solutions regarding traffic issues caused by Matatus parking on the road shoulders, and relocation of traders spreading in road reserves across various market centers.

However, it was observed that the county government should liaise with KeNHA before allocating permits to businesses abutting roadways to ensure that the businesses are viable in view of location and safety

Sensitization of citizens on the importance of protection and preservation of the road asset was also emphasized.

Governor Mutula raised concerns about the increasing deaths of traffic hawkers operating in the towns of Salama, Emali, and Sultan-Hamud among other towns along the Northern corridor section urging KeNHA for immediate intervention to ensure the safety of the traders.

 

A SITTING WITH COUNTY DRIVERS

On Tuesday 25th October, the Governor H.E Mutula Kilonzo Jnr held a meeting with a section of motor vehicle drivers and machine operators employed by the County Government of Makueni to gain insight into their operations and work environment.

The drivers had an opportunity to speak candidly about their challenges and more importantly their views on how their welfare can be improved through training and promotion of good performers.

The drivers agreed to ensure county assets entrusted to them by the people of Makueni are well handled and maintained for the benefit of the County.

However, the Governor warned against misuse of government vehicles and machineries.

“Recently, I made far reaching changes in the transport department which was plagued by inefficiency, high maintenance and fuel bills. I make it clear that misuse of vehicles and machinery will not be tolerated,” the Governor said.

The meeting ended on a positive note with a commitment to change.

 

GOVERNOR MEETS ROAD CONTRACTORS

H.E Governor Mutula Kilonzo Junior and the Deputy Governor H.E Lucy Mulili today received an update from contractors building roads in parts of Makueni County. The contractors working on the Kikima, Kali, Utangwa, Kyambalasi road, Tawa, Itangini and Emali Nduundune and other roads presented their challenges to the Governor. The main issue is delayed payments from the Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KERRA), a National Government agency that oversees development of rural roads in Kenya. The lack of funds has caused delays in completion of the roads.
The contractors emphasized that delayed payments, some of which are two years old have negatively affected them and slowed progress. They expressed commitment to complete the roads if payments are made in good time. The contractors cited the high cost of credit and negative rating from financial institutions due to late loan repayments on credit facilities advanced to the contractors.
H.E the Governor promised that his office would assist in presenting their challenges to the national government to enable them continue to work. The Governor said that as the Chairman of the Council of Governors committee on Legal Affairs and Intergovernmental relations, he would seek a collaborative engagement with the National government to unlock the stalemate. The contractors promised to mobilize their teams to fix problem areas ahead of works to make the roads motorable in the time being.
The County Commissioner Ms Beverly Opwora said that some of the roads lead to security installations and required urgent intervention. The County Commissioner asked traders who have encroached on road reserves to give way for the road contractors.
The contractors prepared the outstanding schedule of payments to seek intervention in settling of their bills. The meeting was attended by Amip Patel from Kabuito Contractors, Geoffery Ndambuki and Ngare Mahinda of Coastal Enterprises, Wan Wengbin of Shengli Engineering, Terene Enterprises, the KERRA Regional Director Eng. Anastasia Ndunda and KERRA Resident Engineers for Emali and Kikima – Kali roads.
 

Top German Firm Ready to Partner with Makueni for Roads Constructions and Minerals Exploration

A leading Germany company specialized in roads construction, equipment and mineral extraction technologies has expressed its interest in partnering with Makueni County.

The German company is now among several international and local organizations that have shown interest in the unexplored mineral world of Makueni County.

During the Road Technology Days 2018 workshop which took place in Ludwigshafen, Germany, the company indicated it was ready to partner with Makueni County in developing and constructing low cost rural sector roads.

Makueni County ECM for Roads, Transport, Energy and Public works Eng. Sebastian Kyoni who is in Germany welcomed the move by Wirtgen Group GmbH to venture into the local road works and the mining sector.

“I have represented our case here very well and we are hopeful that the interest shown by the Wirtgen Group will be escalated to the next level. Some 4000 delegates are also attending this workshop,”Mr Kyoni said.

The company will as well assist in acquisition of equipment and technology transfer to the county roads team on low cost rural roads construction techniques through Panafrican Equipment Kenya Limited, its subsidiary in Kenya