Malava-Samitsi-Navakholo Road Bitumen works commences

By Wakhungu Andaje

Finally after years of empty promises works on the busy Malava Samitsi, Navakholo road has begun.

Residents could not hide their excitement and anxiety at the same time when they were called for a public participation to review the progress. 

Addressing the Malava residents Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA) Regional Director Kakamega county Edwin Cheserek said works had commenced on the road, urging residents to adhere to the (KeRRA) requirements.

The 22 Kilometer road, which is costing Ksh.1.6Billion once completed, will ease transport considering that the road is a major one connecting Malava to Mumias and Bungoma.

The residents, however, were advised to uproot any trees and buildings erected within the 18Metres width of the KeRRA requirement.

Cheserek, who is also the resident engineer of the project, cautioned wananchi against going against the government laws of road construction warning that those who fail to heed to the requirement risk facing the law.

He also told the people that there was no compensation for those who has either planted trees or constructed structures within the road reserve and that it was upon themselves to cut the tress and pull down the structures failure to which KeRRA will charge them when they take up the initiative.

On compensation, Cheserek stated that it will only be done in a situation where the road diversion has passed through ones land where the land commission will be called to carry out valuation to facilitate compensation.

“Already surveyors are marking and pegging the width of the road and if you find yourself falling under the measurements kindly start moving to allow the works to continue and be completed in the stipulated time frame” he urged.

He also cautioned the residents against blocking culverts diverting water and said the culverts will remain where they were to allow water diversion to protect the tarmac from water erosion.

“Stagnant water on the road is the root cause of road network corrosion and we will be opening those culverts to drive the water from the road and in places where there’s much of it we will do environmental management including stone bridging, gabions and tree planting to keep the road corridors clear, we are also engaging both the water and electricity engineers to come on board and move their pipes and poles to the 18 meters road corridor measurements as it is the right of way” he assured.

He assured the residents that the contractor Pinnie Agency will consider offering jobs to them and will also purchase raw materials from them.

The locals were assured of employment to work on the road with 30% slots as per constitution set aside for the women and people living with disabilities (PLWD’s).

The engineer further warned the residents to be careful as the road works construction will bring over new employees who will be residing among them and some could be having infectious disease such as (HIV /Aids) while others could be home wreckers.

“As we embark on the tarmacking of this road, remember some employees will be outsourced and will be living within the construction sites and it will be very sad to notice that by the end of constructing this road some of you may have lost their spouses and others could be infected with various ailments, so take care and do not engage in anything stupid without proper consultations and medical checkup, we do not want to be blamed for such short comings as our main core activity is to tarmac this road”

The Malava constituency KeRRA chairman Moses Kenyatta Wasike urged the residents to rally behind the government now that huge projects which have been stalled in Malava were on course.

He said the road was a major one that will lead to the transformation of Malava as it moves forward to attain its municipality statue.

The National government constituency development fund (NG-CDF) Director Naomi Shiyonga supported the initiative calling for 100% local employment. 

Shiyonga said the government was committed to bring development to the people of Malava as one way of appreciating their support towards President William Ruto’s administration.

The official said development was key and the connectivity of tarmac from Ikoli to Navakholo will open Malava to outside counties as transportation will be easy.

She called for the employment of the youth and women to take up the construction jobs and in return earn a living.

Furthermore asked the land owners to cooperate with the engineers to have the road constructed without stalling the project over road width issues.

“It is you our fathers who own land and when the engineers comes and measures to ascertain the needed contract width of the road please stop unnecessary confrontations as the road will have many more advantages to ourselves than that one or two meters we want not extended”

She said with much cooperation the engineers were ready to finish the works in the stated 18 months period.

Mama Signal however criticized some contractors who have been doing shoddy works and said the Malava Samitsi Navakholo road should be properly tarmacked as it is a busy one with vehicles and tractors from all the sugar factories and construction trucks transporting raw materials plying the road.

She wanted to know why the Ikoli Malava tarmac had stalled despite starting on a high note. According to the Pinnie agency site engineer, Simon Kariuki Thuo, the 18 months project will be fully and professionally completed on the stipulated timeframe.

L/R Malava constituency KeRRA chairman Moses Kenyatta, KeRRA regional director Edwin Cheserek Butali Chegulo Mca Kevin Mahelo central Kabras ACC Eveline Ariyo and West Kabras DCC Mr Majiwa during a public participation for the Ksh 1.6 Billion Malava, Samitsi, Navakholo road./WAKHUNGU ANDANJE

He assured the residents that they were up to the task and will do a commendable job. 

The engineer lauded the government for recognizing local contractors and warding them a project of such magnitude.

“We are qualified contractor and we wish to asked the locals to follow our diversion directives and we will be controlling dust on those diversions to avoid its pollutions to homestead and schools and we will also be running test compliance on every layer before we proceed to make sure it conforms with the contract terms” he concluded.