The Sh5.6 billion Eldoret Southern Bypass is almost half complete after government resolved land compensation disputes that have stalled it for more than three years.
The project is financed by the African Development Bank. Its officials were in Eldoret to expect progress on the key road that will ease movement of goods from Kenya to Uganda and neighbouring countries.
It is expected to be completed before the general election next year.
"Already we have seen improvement in residents' livelihoods as a result of development," Uasin Gishu Governor Jackson Mandago said. He hosted the AfDB team led by Amos Cheptoo.
Mandago said infrastructural in Eldoret town has promoted regional economic growth and made business easier.
Mandago and the AfDB team inspected works on the bypass.
It runs from Cheplaskei on the Eldoret-Naifrobi highway through Kapseret area near the Eldoret Airport and back to the Eldoret-Uganda highway intercepting at Leseru.
Mandago said the bypass will help decongest Eldoret town, a key transit point to East African countries.
Contractors have completed work on the three major interchanges at Leseru, Kapseret and Ngeria. They are working on bridges and drainage systems before completing the road in the next few months.
President Kenyatta commissioned construction before the last general election. It is a flagship project expected to be completed well ahead of his exit from office.
The government has paid out more than Sh2 billion as compensation to families displaced from their land.
Mandago has asked the AfDB to consider funding the dualling of the Cheplaskei-Leseru road passing through Eldoret town.
He also appealed for improvement of the Leseru-Kitale road to join the Suam border to open up the northern part of the region.
"We are looking forward to future partnerships and we hope you will also fund dualling of the road because the designs were made to accommodate expansion," Mandago said.
AfDB director general Amos Cheptoo said, "Eldoret is a major corridor area, the crucial Northern Corridor passes through Eldoret. The bypass will help spur economic growth in the entire region," he said.
Kiptoo said they were satisfied with progress.
He said the Bank would continue to work with the government on road expansion in the region.
County roads executive Gideon Birir said, "We shall work with agencies to fast-track the processes so the bypass is completed quickly."
County executive for Energy Mary Njogu and director for linkages and partnerships Joywin Sang were present.
(Edited by V. Graham)
