Roads Open Up Tourism, Trade, Ties In The North

For a long time, northern Kenya was a byword for insecurity and desolation. These vast lands were isolated from the rest of the country and there was little contact between residents and other Kenyans.

But that is slowly changing, thanks to a slew of road projects being implemented by the Jubilee government.

These projects are expected to be in full commission by the first half of the 2016-17 financial year and cover the Central, Upper Eastern and Northern Kenya regions. I recently made an extensive Inspection tour of most of these projects with my technical team to check on their progress.

Their fast-tracking and prioritisation is out of the realisation that for any part of Kenya to develop, a bankable and efficient transport system, which links it to the rest of the country and even neighboring countries, is imperative. That is the only way to ease the movement of people and goods, which is critical for trade and socio-cultural exchanges between communities.

Already, the benefits are beginning to register. For instance, a journey that previously took three days now takes just five hours. And fresh produce from, say, Nairobi, can now reach the strategically important border town of Moyale in the same state it left the capital.

Good infrastructure has the power to transform communities. In Central, where a number of road projects are underway, residents are now finding it easier to access markets. Where previously they had to be content with selling to their neighbours in nearby towns, new frontiers are opening up, especially in the largely unexploited north. Good roads will also create new economic opportunities, especially for the youth in a region where despair has bred a number of escapist vices like the epidemic consumption of illicit, deadly liquor.

Some of these ongoing projects include spot improvement of the Kenol-Murang’a road and construction of the following sections: Murang’a-Gitugi-Njumbi-Mioro; Muthaithi-Munaini-Gatitu-Kagiri-Muthinga-Ithekahuno-Kangaita-Kangubiri; Kangema-Gacharage; Mweiga-Brookside-Kimathi University and Naromoru-Munyu-Karisheni and are due for completion by June.

Further north, critical projects include the Marua-Nanyuki-Lewa road; the Merille River-Marsabit link; Marsabit-Turbi and, significantly, the road between Turbi and Moyale, on the border with Ethiopia. The 503km projects are being financed by the African Development Bank and the European Union.

In Mandera county, the Nuno-Modagashe road, which is being upgraded to bituminous standard, will be complete in 2018. The Modika-Nuno road got a similar upgrade last year.

The eventual link with Ethiopia will heighten trade and socio-cultural links between the two countries, hence deepening regional integration. It is also part of a second economic corridor under the Lapsset project.

One of the critical infrastructure projects the government is implementing is the One Stop Border Post at Moyale to be completed this April. This facility will ease the movement of goods and people between Kenya and Ethiopia. The OSBP will lessen bureaucracy at the crossing as all immigration and customs procedures will now be undertaken at a single office and not two as was previously the case.

Efficient road transport will open up the northern tourism circuit, which remains largely untapped, despite its many “products”, including the Rift Valley’s largest lake, Lake Turkana and the rich culture of the inhabitants. A working road network will work in tandem with Marsabit Airport.

Northern Kenya has suffered frequent insecurity incidents as a result of the criminal activities of feuding clans, bandits and, lately, terrorists. Tragedies such as the Turbi massacre are still fresh in the minds of many. Some of these skirmishes escalated because of delays in state response due to bad roads. A good road network will make it easy for the government’s security apparatus to mobilise quickly and effectively. It is also an incentive for putting up more permanent security installations in this area.

The opening up of the area by constructing good roads will make it easy for livestock keepers to access markets within Kenya and internationally. It will also enable the normally nomadic herders to access amenities like water pans and veterinary services more easily.

But the effort to modernise Kenya’s road infrastructure has not been without challenge. Among the problems that limit the economic and social potential of roads are vandalism, encroachment onto roads and road reserves and the erection of illegal speed bumps by citizens.

Vandalism is seen in the widespread destruction and outright theft of road signage, guard rails and other road furniture. Encroachers have violated roads by putting up illegal billboards or temporary structures, or even farming on highways.

The government is putting in place performance-based contract regimes to manage and maintain Kenya’s key road corridors. Their role will be to conduct patrols, do maintenance work and deal with emergencies like vehicle breakdown. Research on use of alternative materials other than steel is also ongoing.

Road safety will also be enhanced through replacement of missing road furniture, construction of standard bumps and rumble strips, removal of illegal structures and clear markings, for example zebra crossings.

Roads are a strategic national asset and their protection from destruction and overall safety for users must be a collaborative effort, the conscious duty of all stakeholders.

Eng John Mosonik is the PS, Transport and Infrastructure. E-mail: [email protected]