The government plans to repair 158 roads in Nairobi using a Sh142 million shillings funds, Infrastructure principal secretary Julius Korir announced.
Mr Korir explained that the funds had been obtained after a Sh808 million tender for fixing Nairobi roads was sold at a lesser amount than had been budgeted.
"The outstanding balance of Sh251 million, which was realised from savings on the procurement of the above works, was channeled to selected critical county roads that were deteriorating as a result of maintenance vacuum," Korir stated.
He explained that the Sh556 million tender would also be carried out to conduct maintenance works on 355.8km of roads in the city.
Some of the roads that will receive the facelift include Harambee Avenue, Kaunda street, Loita street, Muindi Mbingu street, Nkrumah Avenue, Ronald Ngala Street, Standard Street, Banda Street and Monrovia Street.
The PS explained that some of the roads were never maintained since they were built and they would be attended first.
"The contractor has mobilised and priotised Tom Mboya, Latema Street, Accra Road and Kirinyaga Road for initial maintenance and then to others on a priority basis," he explained.
Mukoyeti East Road, Kumbe Road and Jogoo Road are set for improvements while 17th Street (part) and Kings Road will be upgraded to bitumen standard.
The data list further outlines that Kiambu Mwende roads and Second Avenue in Eastleigh will undergo routine maintenance as Kayole Spine Road, Five Acres Road and Komarock Phase II undergo spot improvement, rehabilitation and access improvement respectively.
According to Korir, 15.4 km of roads were still under maintenance under the Road Maintenance Levy Fund (RMLF) Initiative at a cost of Ksh 423 M. Spot improvements on Othaya, Nyeri, Gatundu, Mwingi and Kikambala roads in Kileleshwa will also be under the RMLF.
Residents of Kasarani Sportsview Estate and users of Shreeji Road-Embakasi and Siaya Road-Kileleshwa will have to wait for the improvement works on their roads amounting Sh209M to be advertised.
Some of the roads have been impassable following heavy rains which have driven fare rates up.