Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir has commended road contractors for resuming work on stalled road projects.
He said that this followed the government’s move to begin settling the pending bills owed to them.
Chirchir said the revival of stalled road projects signifies a renewed commitment to enhancing the country's road network infrastructure.
"This initiative holds significant promise for improving transportation across the country, enabling Kenyans to experience more efficient and seamless connectivity," he said.
He spoke during a meeting with various road agencies, who were praised by the CS for their role in expediting the payment of outstanding bills.
Chirchir noted that the resumption of work will also significantly contribute to increased employment opportunities across the sector, from direct employment on the projects to opportunities for service providers, suppliers, and contractors’ employees.
The initiative, he insisted, holds significant promise for improving transportation across the country while enabling Kenyans to experience more efficient and seamless connectivity.
Some of the projects had stalled for over five years due to the delayed settlement of payments, leaving key infrastructure incomplete.
Former Transport CS Kipchumba Murkomen had in 2024 revealed that they inherited commitments amounting to Sh900 billion.
He said that pending bills amounted to at least Sh150 billion, leading to widespread project delays.
Beyond infrastructure development, Chirchir stated that this is expected to spur job creation across the sector from direct employment on construction sites to opportunities for service providers, suppliers, and small businesses.
Even small-scale traders who play a vital role in local food supply chains stand to benefit from improved access to markets, he said.
“The revival of these projects is also vital for production and economic growth, even for small-scale traders like Mama mboga, who play a crucial role in local food distribution networks,” he said.
The CS also lauded all stakeholders for their collaboration and reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to accelerating project delivery for the benefit of all Kenyans.
