The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure has banned the use of the Malaysian probase soil stabilisation technology in construction of low-cost roads in Embu county.
Speaker Justus Mate told the county assembly on Tuesday that Infrastructure PS John Mosonik stopped the construction of the 12.8Km Embu-Kibugu road.
It is being built by the county government using the probase technology.
Mate said Mosonik directed, through a letter, that the road should be tarmarcked using use the approved bitumen technology.
The road, which was initially projected to cost Sh380 million, got an additional Sh100 million in the 2016-2017 budget after the Malaysian contractor requested additional funds. This was to improve the drainage system and expand the Rupingazi Bridge at Ndunda area.
In the letter, Mosonik said the government has not approved the Malaysian technology.
He said the 5.8km stretch already built using the technology will be monitored by government engineers for research and technical evaluation purposes.
Mosonik also directed that the tarmacking of the stabilised section using probase technology that has not been sealed be temporarily stopped until tests for quality assurance are concluded.
He clarified that the construction of the road can continue but only with the approved bitumen technology.
Mate said the executive should not use the development as an excuse for not completing the road, since the necessary budgetary provisions are already in place
Probase technology is said to be 70 per cent cheaper than conventional bitumen. It was first used in Meru as a pilot project with intention to spread it to other counties.