Traders and residents operating along the Riat-Ndiwa road in Homa Bay county are celebrating the Sh12 million reconstruction of the 10km murram road connecting Ndhiwa town to Sukari Industries.
Sukari is the only large-scale factory in the county and the company rehabilitated the main access road, widened it from six to eight metres and carpeted it. Proper drainage and culverts were built.
For more than a decade, Ndhiwa residents and traders suffered respiratory problems caused by road dust. Travel was slowed by ridges and potholes; the road was impassable at times.
Some women in labour suffered miscarriage along the treacherous road. Patients in Riat seeking medical attention at Ndhiwa subcounty hospital had to travel an hour to cover 10km.
Sometimes people died on the way to hospital because it took so long to get there, Dan Yambo, Ndiwa subcounty boda boda chairman said.
“The road was in deplorable condition and whenever it rained, there were accidents, or the road was impassable," Charles Odoyo, boda boda chairman for Kawuondo Junction, said.
Fifty residents were hired as casual labourers to reconstruct the road.
Chief enginer Boaz Aoke said the road will last for at least two years before maintenance is required.
Sukari Industries GM David Okoth stated the deporable condition of the road delayed delivery of cane to the factory and many tractors and trucks got stuck.
“Now we request the county and national governments to upgrade roads to tarmack," he said
Sukari Industries has also reconstructed the following roads: five-kilometre Amoyo-Ligotho, 10km Amoyo-Ongita, 9km Ongito-Ayego, 12km Oria market-Nyamasare, 11km Oria-Pala, 14km Awendo- Nyaundo, 8km Alili-Rapdehi and 7km Rapedh-Maliwa.
Just like the Ndhiwa-Riat road, most murram roads in Homa Bay county are under the Kenya Rural Roads Authority.
(Edited by V. Graham)
