President Uhuru Kenyatta on Friday launched the construction work on the road linking the two border towns of Busia-Malaba road.
President Kenyatta said the road to be constructed at a cost of Sh 1billion would open up the region besides linking residents of the county to the neighbouring Uganda.
Addressing wananchi at Adungosi grounds during the launch of the road, the President said the Government was not only committed to improving roads linking various parts of the country but also those linking countries together as well.
He said the Malaba-Busia and Malaba-Moding roads upon completion will ease movement of goods and services from within and outside the county and thus increase trading activities.
“Our aim is to come up with projects that are beneficial to Kenyans. Improved roads can increase opportunities for trade and investment,” said Mr Kenyatta.
President Kenyatta who was accompanied by Deputy President William Ruto said no meaningful development would be achieved if there were no good roads.
The President, enumerated the achievements of his Government, nearly four years in office citing the connections of millions of Kenyans to electricity, increase in capitation fee for primary and secondary schools, relieving parents the burden of paying examination fee for form four and standard eight candidates.
He added that the Jubilee Administration has transformed the health sector citing the free maternity programme for mothers, expansion and equipping of two hospitals to status of referrals in every county.
President Kenyatta said the Government’s agenda on promoting development in all parts of the country was on course.
The Head of State also launched the medical equipment for Busia County hospital before opening the Agricultural Finance Corporation (AFC), Busia branch.
He said the Government was committed to fulfilling the promises it made to Kenyans during the last general election.
The Deputy President William Ruto said Jubilee has taken only three years to improve the road which the previous governments had failed to deliver.
“Some people are claiming that we have taken long to tarmac this road and yet they did not do so when they were in power for more than 30 years,” said Mr Ruto.
The Deputy President said when Jubilee took over the leadership of the country in 2013, only 14,000 people were connected to electricity in Busia County but three years later 25, 000 people were connected to power.
Present were MPs John Waluke (Sirisia), Mary Emase (Teso South), Arthur Odera (Teso North), Rachel Shebesh (Nairobi), Beatrice Elachi (nominated), Ababu Namwamba (Budalangi) and Governors Sospeter Ojamong (Busia) and Ken Lusaka (Bungoma).
_PSCU