Nyamira County government is set to gravel at least 250KM of roads in 2016/17 financial year from 100KM in the ending financial year, Finance and Planning Committee Chair James Sabwengi has revealed.
Speaking during tabling of annual Fiscal Planning report on Tuesday, Sabwengi said his committee agreed on the Kilometers after a survey which assessed the infrastructural development in the county.
“The committee assessed the status of our feeder roads and we were convinced that more needs to be done despite the financial constraints. We allocated 250KM across the county which will be shared in the 20 wards based on the needs,” Sabwengi said.
He was backed by a host of MCAs led by Minority Leader Jackson Mogusu who hailed the committee for giving infrastructure first priority.
“We may not agree with everything in the fiscal planning paper but I think 250KM is a good idea. This is an agricultural county and our people need passable roads. We have done a number of them before and I think the distance proposed is fair,” he said.
Gesima MCA Ken Atuti also welcomed the move but challenged the House Committee on roads to execute its mandate by implementing the proposal once full budget allocation is done.
“On roads, I don’t see a big deal. We need these roads and we know there are a number of areas which needs funding. However, 250KM for next financial year is welcome,” he said.
However, Majority Leader Laban Masira lauded the lightening program as proposed by the committee but called for amendment to distribute the pols based on priority.
“I am not opposed to the lightening program as suggested but Mr. Speaker we have to identify regions with need. As you can see, most members are giving similar suggestions that the committee failed to elaborate key issues,” he said.
“Some wards are in remote areas and do not need much streetlights. So it will be unfair to allocate 15Pols per ward given the number of trading centers varies from one ward to another,” he said.
Photo: Journalists following Nyamira County Assembly session. MCAs welcomed proposed gravelling of 250KM of roads in 2016/17 as opposed to 100KM in ending financial year. AMakori/Hivisasa.com