Garissa Governor Nathif Jama speaking in his office.
The Kenya Urban Roads Authority has allocated Sh400 million for road improvement projects in Bura and Balambala municipalities in Garissa county.
Each municipality is set to receive Sh200 million.
The investment will fund the upgrading of roads in the two municipalities, with the projects expected to improve transport, facilitate trade, enhance access to essential services and improve the overall urban environment.
On Saturday, a team of Kura officials conducted a preliminary mapping exercise in Balambala town to facilitate the smooth implementation of the project.
Garissa Governor Nathif Jama on Saturday welcomed the allocation, saying it came shortly after the county government secured municipality status for Bura and Balambala.
He said the development has enabled the two towns to qualify for urban development funding previously inaccessible to them.
Governor
Jama said the county will continue complementing the national government's efforts
in infrastructure development by investing its own resources in road
infrastructure in Garissa county to improve connectivity, reduce transport
costs, strengthen trade, support agriculture and livestock production, improve
access to health and education services and open up rural areas for
investment.
“The
combined investments by the county, national government and development
partners will contribute to the transformation of Garissa's urban
centres into better-planned municipalities while improving service delivery and
the quality of life for residents,” the governor said.
A road in Balambala town that is set for
tarmacking /STEPHEN ASTARIKO
He also
acknowledged the role of Health CS Aden Duale, whom he credited with lobbying
for the road upgrades alongside several other national government projects
currently being implemented in Garissa county.
Among the
projects are the establishment of the newly announced Level 4 Mother and Child
Hospital in Galmagala, Fafi subcounty; the ongoing upgrading of Balambala
Hospital; and the commissioning of the Garissa Regional Blood Transfusion
Centre.
"I thank CS Duale for standing with the people of Garissa and consistently lobbying for projects that complement our county development agenda," Governor Jama said.
"His
support demonstrates what can be achieved when the national and county governments work together for the benefit of our people."
According
to the governor, the elevation of Bura and Balambala to municipality status has
expanded their eligibility for infrastructure financing and other urban
development programmes.
He said Garissa, Dadaab–Hagardera and Masalani municipalities are also set to receive Sh626 million under Phase Two of the
Kenya Urban Support Programme (KUSP).
The
funding will support road construction, water and sanitation infrastructure,
street lighting, markets and other urban development projects.
Jama said municipality status also enables towns to benefit from the Kenya Urban Support Programme through support for municipal governance, urban planning, financial management, revenue enhancement, institutional strengthening and improved service delivery.
He said the status creates opportunities for municipalities to access technical and financial support from development partners.
These include the African Development Bank through its Urban and Municipal Development Fund, the German Development Bank (KfW) for urban infrastructure and water and sanitation projects, and the State Department for Housing and Urban Development for municipal planning, infrastructure development and sustainable urban growth.
The governor further said Garissa's municipalities are receiving technical, policy and institutional capacity-building support from development partners, including VNG International, the International Rescue Committee (IRC), the Refugee Consortium of Kenya (RCK), Inkomoko and the Regional Desertification Foundation (RDF)/Dorsch Impact.
He said the partnerships are supporting
municipal governance, urban planning, economic development, investment
readiness and the delivery of public services.
"Our strategy has been to create municipalities because municipalities attract investment. That is how we will build better roads, improve water services, modernise markets, expand street lighting and create towns that support business, jobs and economic growth," he said.
A team consisting of Kura officials and residents of Balambala is conducting preliminary mapping exercise in Balambala town for the smooth implementation of the Project /STEPHEN ASTARIKO
Residents of Balambala during the sensitisation meeting /STEPHEN
ASTARIKO
