The second phase of rehabilitating dilapidated roads in all 55 wards of Nakuru County will begin in the month of September, acting CEC for roads and public works Eng Lucy Kariuki has said.
Speaking to journalists in Nakuru on Thursday, Kariuki said that the programme dubbed Boresha Barabara Phase two involves the use of internal machinery.
During the first phase that was undertaken in the month of March and April 525 kilometers of heavy and light grading were achieved while 89 kilometers of roads were graveled.
Kariuki said that Sh23 million was used to purchase fuel for the works machines, pay allowances for the operators and meet repair cost.
“I must state that Sh23 million was used to purchase fuel for the works machines, pay allowances for the operators and meet repair cost. Some of the money was also used to hire equipment from the chief mechanical and transport engineer” said the CEC.
She added that a budgetary allocation to purchase additional tippers, rollers, graders, and compactors has been made in order to ensure the success of the Boresha phase two.
The CEC said that the first phase was stopped owing to heavy rains and efforts were diverted towards emergency repairs where heavy rains had caused extensive damage.
Given the need for personnel to operate the additional machines, Kariuki said that the county department of roads has experienced staff although most of them are under contract adding that they are working closely with the governor to see to it that they are employed on longer contracts in order to boost their morale.
She said that they have the capacity to operate the machines that are going to be purchased at a cost of Sh171 million.
These machines, according to Kariuki will go a long way in helping solve the problem of poor roads especially at the grassroots level where farmers have had to struggle to have farm produce reach the market.
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