Busia-Malaba road in a poor state with no signs in sight as to when the tarmacking exercise will start. [Photo/Busia County Government]Busia County residents want President Uhuru Kenyatta to intervene over the slow pace by a contractor in having the Busia-Malaba Road upgraded to bitumen standards.
The residents who included boda-boda operators and traders said the Kenyan Contractor who was given the contract to tarmac the 28km road should have the contract terminated if he cannot rise up to the occasion.
"The Chinese contractor who was given to tarmac the 35km Malaba-Angurai-Kawalun and Angurai Malakisi road has tarmacked over 15 kilometers while nothing is forthcoming on Busia-Malaba road," they said.
President Kenyatta while commissioning the tarmacking of the two roads on December 18, 2016, gave the assurance that he will return to Busia to launch the roads after 18 months to herald a new era in the history of Teso region which he said had remained with no tarmac road since independence.
A kiosk operator opposite Total Petrol Station kali trader Harrison Oyumbu said the poor state of the road has seen many boda-boda accidents with women and children breaking their legs.
"The situation is worse during rainy season with waterlogged trenches and no access to our premises. This has resulted in low returns due to inaccessibility and dusty conditions," he said.
A boda-boda operator Philip Okhayo said they have no faith in the Busia-Malaba road contractor over claims he engages in many wrangles and delays to pay his workers.
"If the contractor feels he is not ready to continue with the work he should surrender it to another contractor. We want development but not people who are not able to execute their mandate," he said.
Alfred Omela said some people were peddling rumors that the road is under the County Government whereas it is clear that it is under the National Government.
"Such rumors have no basis. Most roads under Busi a Governor Sospeter Ojaamong are in motorable condition with most of them in Busia and Malaba towns tarmacked."