The department of Roads, Transport and Public Works, targets to cover a total of 350 Kilometers of the County access roads under the program dubbed machine – based road maintenance, at a cost of 278million.
The program focuses on ensuring effective, reliable and accessible infrastructure through provision and maintenance of the roads, bridges among other infrastructure within Kisumu County.
This is in line with Governor Nyong’o’s manifesto and the policy for Kisumu County Rural Roads maintenance formulated to create room for establishment of village road maintenance teams thereby mainstreaming the spirit of devolution in development.
The 350 Kms is to be implemented in two phases, phase one will cover maintenance up to a total of 175kms with each ward benefiting from 5Kms before the end of this financial year, while Phase two will cover opening of roads up to 175Kms to complete the additional 5Kms per ward in the next financial year.
The idea of machine – based program was mooted by roads department to cut down on cost, instill quality and professionalism at work having had a rough experience with contractors who not only fail to deliver their work on time but also do shoddy work rendering the roads impassable when the heavy rains fall.
While holding a sensitization meeting with all the grass root Executives (Village Administrators, Ward Administrators and Sub county Administrators) across the seven sub counties this week, the County Executive for Roads, transport and Public Works, Dr. Joyce Osogo called on them to be vigilant and supervise the works within their wards with diligence to ensure machine- based program succeeds.
“Having piloted the program in Muhoroni, Nyando, Kisumu West and Nyakach Sub counties to test work ability and mitigation, we covered 107Kms of roads most of which are still in very sound condition. I therefore believe that with the machine – based program we will get it right” said Dr. Osogo
Concerning the Project Management Committees (PMCS), she directed that going forward under machine-based program PMCs will be required on voluntary basis, those with a passion for village development. However, for those who worked under contractors and have not been paid, she tasked the village administrators to prepare a list of their names and forward to her office through the sub county administrators.
Additionally, she assigned the grass root executives from each sub county to develop a matrix of all roads in their villages and wards and indicate if it is captured under CRF, KRB, Machine – based program and those not captured anywhere among the listed that will be prioritized in the next financial year.
She also suspended opening of ‘matanga roads’ loosely translated as roads leading to funerals for the next one month in order to concentrate and deliver as per the work plan, and before the long rains begin.
The County Executive was flanked by Director roads Eng. Judith Okore and Director Transport Eng. Eric Ngage who guided the Executives on the composition of the PMCs, the importance of public participation and on being vigilant over the safety of the machines, fuel, ensuring the machines are not relocated unless the work is complete on the ground.
The department has plans to adopt climate technology roads that will require 39million and the pilot will be done across all sub counties.
The meetings were graced by all the sub county Engineers and the area MCA’s who pledged support for the Machine based program by doing their oversight role.
