Kisumu National Polytechnic College has been urged to use its expertise in the engineering department to develop a light railway line in Kisumu City and within the sugar belt region to spur growth.
Kisumu Senator Prof Anyang Nyong’o said the polytechnic has specialised workforce required to make the railway system.
“This institution is in a position to manufacture and develop a light railway system for the county, you have mechanical department, you have the electric department, all you need is raw material to do that,” he said.
Prof Nyong’o called for partnership between the county and the higher learning institution to improve on the transport infrastructure as a way of dealing with constant traffic jams on the road.
He said the idea will give learners skills which respond not only to the needs of the county, but also to the future of rail engineering.
Addressing students on Monday from higher learning institutions in the county at the polytechnic on devolution and academics, Prof Nyong’o said the sugar belt region needs a railway system for the transportation of cane to the factories.
The Senator said transporting cane by road has faced challenges thus the need for a new system.
He said with the railway system, farmers will be able to transport their cane to the factories in time even during rainy seasons when most roads are impassable.
“In the sugar belt we do not need roads to transport sugarcane to the factories because when it rains, the trucks get stuck for even three days. When the cane arrives in the factory the sucrose content shall have lowered down,” he said.