Bungoma county, which will play host to this year’s Madaraka Day celebrations has seen several infrastructural upgrades ahead of the June 1 commemoration.
With the many preparations, one of the areas that have seen huge investment is the roads sector.
According to the Kenya Urban Roads Authority, the county has received upgrades of up to 21 kilometres of road.
Kura director general Silas Kinoti, who was on an inspection tour of the roads in Bungoma town, said the works were done at a cost of Sh1.8 billion.
The roads will greatly boost the ever-vibrant town of Bungoma which is a strategic hub for goods heading to and from Uganda and beyond.
“Urbanisation is very critical in fulfilling the Sustainable Development Goals through uplifting people’s living standards and providing human dignity while opening up access to services and improved security,” Kinoti said.
He added that roads play a vital role in building investor confidence and connecting people.
“These roads have enhanced the potential of Bungoma and Western region as part of the Bottom-up approach that supports job creation and urbanisation.”
Under the Annuity Road Programme, Kura has overseen the construction of a road network totalling to 14.7 kilometres. They include Bungoma-Mateka-Samoia-Muslim Primary C33, spanning 6.3 km.
This also included the Mateka-Mwanda-Siritanyi A104, measuring 8.4 kilometres.
Additionally, Kura has undertaken the improvement of several roads totalling 6.5 km within Bungoma town in preparation of the Madaraka day celebrations.
These include Stadium Roads, Wamalwa-Kijana High School road, Elegant road, Kanduyi DEB - Lusaka, West FM Loop road and Khetias Back Street.
These roads will benefit residents of Bungoma as well as other neighbouring towns within Western region.
The towns include Kakamega (Kakamega-Ilesi-Rosterman-Emaondo Road), Vihiga (Vihiga-Chavakali-Munoywa-Kiritu) and Busia (Musia Jn B1-Alupe Jnc C43 Bypass) respectively.
