By Patricia Mollyne Mataga
It might cost taxpayers billions of money to repair roads damaged by floods, Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has revealed.
Speaking on Monday, Murkomen noted that several key roads were damaged across the country and might require repair to return them to the best state.
According to the CS, they would require at least Ksh37 billion for the repair works.
Murkomen also opened up on the amount of money needed to complete the ongoing road projects.
“The roads that were destroyed by floods need Ksh37 billion. We also need Ksh165 billion to complete the ongoing road projects,” the Transport and Infrastructure CS said.
He also expressed concerns over the Ksh43 billion that his ministry has been allocated. The CS said the money was not enough to pay all pending bills.
The country was hit by floods following the March-May long rains. During the period, a number of roads were rendered impassable, with the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) periodically having to close some of the roads for repair work.
But the rains have since subsided, and the regular disruption of transport has significantly reduced.
However, the government is now expected to embark on repair works to ensure damage caused by the floods does not endanger the lives of motorists.
Meanwhile, CS Murkomen has revealed plans to hand over the Nairobi-Malaba Highway to the private sector through the Private-Public Partnership (PPP) for dualing and tolling.
“From Nairobi to Nakuru and up to Malaba, is going to be one of the most critical infrastructures that are going to hand over to the private sector through PPP for dualing and toling,” Murkomen said.
Plans for tolling the Nairobi-Malaba Highway come weeks after the government secured funding for the construction of the Nairobi-Mombasa expressway.
President William Ruto while on a State Visit to the US signed a $3.6 billion (Sh 477 billion) funding to construct the 440-kilometer Expressway.
The project will be spearheaded by American Development Finance Institutions, with significant contributions from Kenyan private sector investors and pension funds.
“The Usahihi Expressway sets a standard for transparent, sustainable, and community-centred development, fostering economic growth and environmental protection, and serving as a global inspiration for ethical development,” said President Ruto.