The national government will spend Sh2.9 billion to tarmac the 74km Mbita-Sindo-Magunga-Sori road that connects Homa Bay and Migori counties.
Nyanza regional commissioner Flora Mworoa, Presidential Delivery Unit director Silvance Osele and Homa Bay county commissioner Moses Lilan said on Wednesday the government is keen on completing the road by 2028.
Construction of the road was to start in the last regime, but the contractor abandoned the work over unclear reasons.
President William Ruto relaunched construction of the road last October and contracted China Civil Engineering Construction Cooperation Limited to undertake the work in bits (milestone-base approach).
On Wednesday, Osele said in the new approach, the contractor is paid upon completion of every 7.4km.
This means the government will pay the contractor at least 10 times before the 74km road is complete.
Mworoa added, “The government is avoiding a repeat of the challenges it experienced before in constructing the road. The first section of the project, which is 7.4km, is ready for tarmacking..”
She spoke during an inspection of the road between Magunga and Nyenga trading centres.
Mworoa asked residents to cooperate with the government in implementing development projects.
Suba South constituency manager Isaac Ogora said the road will ease transportation of fish from Lake Victoria to markets.
“We are going to have an efficient avenue for transporting fish to markets in and out of Homa Bay county,” Ogora said.
“We are currently buying some basic items very expensively because of bad roads. This road will open up this area.”
Gwassi North MCA Joseph Sharon said the road will also benefit farmers.
“Suba South is agriculturally-endowed, but the only problem is lack of roads. This road will enable farmers get value for their produce,” Sharon said.
