Road project to be fast-tracked

Homa Bay,

Friday, January 26, 2025

KNA by Davis Langat

The government has put in place measures to speed up the construction of a Sh2.9 billion road project in Homa Bay.

Nyanza Regional Commissioner (RC) Flora Mworoa said the government will be paying the contractor after completion of every 7.4 kilometers to ensure seamless implementation of the project.

Speaking Thursday during an inspection tour of the project, Mworoa said it was regrettable that the construction of Mbita- Sindo- Magunga- Sori Road had suffered delays when a contractor abandoned the work.

 She said the government has contracted China Civil Engineering Construction Co-operation Limited after terminating the contract of a previous contractor who caused the delays.

The RC was accompanied by the Director of the Presidential Delivery Unit Silvance Osele and Homa Bay County Commissioner Moses Lilan.

Osele said the milestone-based payment will see the government pay the contractor at least ten times since the road is 74 km long.

“We have devised a milestone-based method in this project. In this method, the contractor is paid after completing construction of every 7.4km in the road,” Osele said.

Osele expressed confidence that the work had been given to a contractor who will not disappoint the government.

“This contract has been given to a contractor who can do the work. And we believe he is going to complete it,” Osele said.

Mworoa said construction work is expected to end in 2028 and that hiring the new contractor will resolve challenges earlier experienced in the construction of the road.

“We experienced some challenges some time back but the challenges have been overcome. The project construction is now going on well,” Mworoa said.

She said the first 7.4km is almost compete after the introduction of the milestone-based approach.

“The progress of this work is very good and construction of the first milestone is near completion,” Mworoa said.

She asked residents to support the government's development initiatives.

“What we need is development to transform this region economically,” she added.

Osele expressed optimism that the road will boost the local economy by easing the transportation of fish from Lake Victoria to markets.

“We are going to efficiently transport fish to markets in Homa Bay County and beyond,” the Director said.

He added that the road will reduce the cost of living in the area.

“You are currently buying some basic items very expensively because of bad roads. This road will open up this area” Osele added.

Gwassi North MCA Joseph Sharon said the road will enable farmers to transport their agricultural produce to markets.

“Suba South is rich in agricultural production but the only problem is lack of roads. This road will enable farmers to get the value for their produce,” Sharon said.

Courtesy; KNA