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The forged partnership between Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) and governors is expected to yield more fruits as the country ushers in a new administration under President William Ruto.
It’s imperative to note that in 2019, KURA director general Silas Kinoti embarked on an ambitious plan of working with both national and county governments.
The move was tailored towards giving urban centers across the entire country a facelift as an enabling role for other economic activities to thrive.
Since its inception, KURA has executed its vision in delivering a safe and efficient urban road transport infrastructure through construction, rehabilitation and provision of new roads, interchanges, bridges, pedestrian walkways among others.
Consequently, while congratulating the new head of state on behalf of KURA, Kinoti termed Ruto’s speech at Kasarani stadium during his swearing in as futuristic and development-oriented.
He exuded confidence regarding Ruto’s vast experience in running and managing the country’s affairs coupled with his passion for economic growth citing this will help steer the infrastructural agenda forward.
‘’Our President is a man of huge commitment and action whose mantra is pegged on service delivery and having worked and coordinated with the outgoing head of state to mount concrete plan geared towards infrastructural legacy of the former regime, he will pick it up and do much better in a bid to make Kenya further accessible and boost intra-Africa trade’’,Eng Kinoti stated.
Kinoti believes the head of state will achieve his ambition to make Kenya an economic powerhouse across various sectors in the continent.
Consequently, the agency is working round the clock to complete more than 700 kilometers of ongoing road projects spread across different counties, started during the last regime.
Kura, initially dominated by major scandals and power wars, has been experiencing smooth operation since Kinoti took over as the new DG with insiders describing him as a non-nonsense but a keen team player.
The ongoing projects distributed in 31 counties are at various stages of completion.
Nairobi boasts the lion’s share with a length of 172.6 kilometers valued at sh52 billion, followed by Machakos whose length of projects is 83.6 kilometres at a cost of sh6.8 billion.
Others are Nakuru, Mombasa and Kisumu cities which have a length of 44,24.7 and 11.8 kilometres respectively and will cost sh3.5 billion, sh1.8 billion and sh687 million in that order.
Trans Nzoia county is at the bottom of the list with a 2.2 kilometers road that will cost sh164 million followed by Embus’s 2.5 kilometeres at sh254 million.
It’s equally important to note that the agency in one of its first major announcements under the Ruto presidency revealed an ambitious sh16 billion project with the county government of Nairobi aimed at easing traffic jams in the city.
Under the multi-billion project funded by the South Korean government, Nairobi will boast of a spectacular intelligent transport management center to be located along Mombasa Road near City Cabanas.
In September this year,Kinoti briefed Nairobi governor Johnstone Sakaja that Kura will help in expanding the use of technology to manage traffic better, including identifying and fining offenders.
Nairobi will be home to the intelligent transport management center to be located along Mombasa Road near City Cabanas.
The multi-billion project funded by the South Korean government will sit on a 10-hectare piece of land and will incorporate the use of traffic cameras and sensors to ease traffic congestion.
In addition, it will synchronize data to provide uniform data at 100 new junctions in addition to the existing traffic lights.
Kinoti however lamented vandalism menace that cripples transport in the city and called upon the police and other relevant authorities to strongly deal with the matter.
In Nyanza, Kura signed a memorandum of understanding with the Kisumu County government to construct a 46 km promenade at the lakefront from Dunga Beach in Kisumu to Ndere Island.
The authority undertook design and construction as well as supervision of the infrastructure development.
The ambitious plan links up beaches along the scenic and beautiful tourists’ spots in the expansive Winam Gulf.
The Promenade, fully non-motorized, will consist of walkways, cycling tracks and paved carriageways inclusive of recreational facilities at strategic locations.
