A section of a tarmacked road in Wajir town./STEPHEN ASTARIKO
Residents of Wajir are set to enjoy better infrastructure after the government's secured funding for the construction and upgrading of urban roads in the town.
The funding is part of a multi-million-dollar development programme targeting Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs).
According to tender documents released by Kenya Urban Roads Authority on Tuesday, the government has secured financing from the OPEC Fund for International Development towards the implementation of the Development of Urban Roads in Arid and Semi-Arid Areas Project.
The project, to be implemented by KURA, is expected to significantly improve mobility, accessibility, road safety and economic activity in Wajir town through the upgrading of 31 roads stretching approximately 65km to bitumen standards.
The Wajir component of the project is estimated to cost approximately USD35 million (Sh4.5 billion) and forms part of a broader programme covering five counties in the ASAL region.
The planned works will be undertaken in three phases and are expected to open up key sections of the town, ease movement of people and goods, and support urbanisation in Wajir.
The new 65-kilometre roads programme is expected to build on those gains and accelerate Wajir's journey towards becoming a modern urban centre and a key economic hub in Northern Kenya.
Eldas MP Adan Keynan took to his Facebook page to welcome the government's decision, describing it as a transformative intervention that will redefine Wajir's future and unlock vast economic opportunities for residents.
"The government's broader and strategic plan to upgrade Wajir town roads is both plausible and transformative, reflecting a deliberate commitment to building a modern town capable of supporting economic growth, social development and improved quality of life," Keynan wrote.
He said the long-awaited urban roads project, which has been under consideration
for more than two decades, represents a defining milestone in the county's
development agenda.
"The
long-awaited 65-kilometre Urban Roads Project, conceived over two decades ago
and now at an advanced stage of implementation, marks a defining milestone in
Wajir's urban transformation," he said.
The
legislator praised President William Ruto for what he termed decisive
leadership in addressing historical development gaps in Northern Kenya.
"Thank
you for taking an
extraordinary and decisive course, dismantling long-standing political,
administrative and socio-economic bottlenecks and ushering in the final end of
marginalisation, thereby accelerating Northern Kenya and especially Wajir's
journey towards becoming an upcoming city in the desert," Keynan said.
The lawmaker lauded KURA for its technical leadership and oversight of the project, as well
as the OPEC Fund for providing development financing that has enabled the
ambitious programme to move forward.
The latest
development comes barely two weeks after Wajir hosted the national Madaraka Day
celebrations, an event that brought with it a wave of infrastructure
improvements that have already begun changing the face of the town.
Ahead of
the national celebrations, KURA implemented several key projects, including the
upgrading of selected roads to bitumen standards, rehabilitation of
deteriorated roads and the improvement of drainage systems across the town.
The
upgrades not only enhanced the town's appearance but also addressed
longstanding infrastructure challenges that residents have grappled with for
years.
The
development aligns with President Ruto's repeated commitment to ensuring
equitable development across the country and ending the historical
marginalisation of Northern Kenya.
During his
numerous visits to the region, the President has consistently maintained that
no part of Kenya will be left behind in the government's development agenda,
stressing that infrastructure investments are critical in unlocking economic
potential and improving the livelihoods of residents.
The
President has repeatedly stated that his administration is focused on expanding
road networks, improving connectivity and investing in strategic projects that
integrate previously underserved regions into the national economy.
For Wajir
residents, the planned roads project represents more than just improved
infrastructure.
“I can
tell you there is no better time to be a resident of Wajir than now. This infrastructural
development is a significant step towards enhancing trade, attracting
investment, creating employment opportunities and positioning the town as a
vibrant center of growth in Northern Kenya,”
Hussein Mohmaed, a resident, said.
Eldas MP Adan Keynan walks on one of the tarmacked road in Wajir town on 29th of May./ file.
Residents of Wajir going about their business. The town has received significant infrastructural development./STEPHEN ASTARIKO
