• The President inspected the Sh4.2 billion Malindi-Salagate road and the Sh2.3 billion Baricho Bridge in Kilifi.
• He said the national government will take care of electricity projects while some projects funded by the World Bank will be undertaken in collaboration with county governments.
The Coast region will reap big economic gains when the ongoing infrastructural projects are completed.
The Coast region will reap big economic gains when the ongoing infrastructural projects are completed.
President Uhuru Kenyatta inspected some of the multibillion-shilling road projects on Monday accompanied by among others his former critics Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi and his Mombasa counterpart Hassan Joho.
The roads will link Kilifi, Mombasa and Kwale, Tana River and Lamu counties.
The President inspected the Sh4.2 billion Malindi-Salagate road and the Sh2.3 billion Baricho Bridge in Kilifi.
Kingi stressed the need to open the Bamba-Ganze road in Kilifi to the Malindi Mombasa highway and the Kilifi-Baolala road to the Malindi-Salagate road for not only tourism but also agriculture development.
The regional leaders asked that the Baricho-Marafa be tarmacked and connected to the Malindi-Tana River-Lamu road. They also want the Bamburi-Mwakirunge-Rabai road linked to the Kaloleni-Mazeras road.
Already completed are the Mariakani-Mavueni and Mariakani-Bamba roads.
President Kenyatta said his government was determined to fulfill the promise he made to Coast residents on the improvement of roads.
"We are now engaging leaders about smaller roads because work on the bigger ones are is ongoing," he said.
He said the national government will take care of electricity projects while some projects funded by the World Bank will be undertaken in collaboration with county governments.
The head of state said he and regional leaders had agreed to set aside their political differences to serve Kenyans.
"Do not accept to be divided along political parties, religion, tribe or colour. Reject those who come to sell politics of hatred and embrace those who preach development to uplift standards of living," he said.
Kingi acknowledged that there are massive projects being implemented by the government while others are in the pipeline.
"In Bamba, there is a road that is connecting the Malindi-Salagate road but it's murram. It should join Malindi, Ganze, Kilifi, Kaloleni and Mariakani,'' he said.
He regretted the poor state of the Bamba to Kilifi road.
The governor said congestion along the Mombasa-Nairobi highway will be reduced once the road linking Kilifi and Mombasa through Bamburi and Rabai is tarmacked.
"The President agreed that the roads are important in connecting the county and expanding the economy in the area," he said.
Also in the presidential entourage were Transport Cabinet Secretary James Macharia, Lands Chief Administrative Secretary Gideon Mung'aro and Kilifi Woman Representative Gertrude Mbeyu.
Mung'aro said the roads will open up the economy and uplift peoples' living standards.
Edited by R.Wamochie