Gov't secures Ksh.40B loan from China to revive stalled projects in 15 counties

 

Govt to revive stalled projects

Kenya has secured a Ksh.40 billion loan from China to help unlock stalled projects in 15 counties.

National Assembly Budget Committee Chair Ndindi Nyoro said the deal inked by the two countries will see contractors go back on site as soon as the month of September.

Nyoro said the country's budget is under pressure from the stalled projects and heavy funding required by infrastructure projects, with a greater headache being the pending bills accrued“For the last 10 years, we bit more than we could chew, and that is why we now have a lot of pending projects, mostly on roads,” said Nyoro.

The new funding from China targeting 15 counties is also expected to spill over to neighbouring counties where the roads stretch.

“We took 15 counties and projects roads that have not been done more than 20 per cent since they were launched,” Nyoro added.

Elgeyo Marakwet and Baringo had stalled projects, one being the Tot-Sigor Road that cuts across the two counties now set to benefit from the new funding.

In Embu, Kanyuambora Road has been identified as having stalled for some time, while in Kiambu, Laini, Gacharage Road has been earmarked for a marathon construction.

In Kisii County, Rioma and Marani Road have been listed, while in Kirinyaga, the 95-kilometer road project dubbed 'The Belt of Gichugu', which snakes through all the five wards of the constituency with Piai, Murinduku Road set to be part of the new government intervention.

Makueni's Tawa, Nguluni, and Itagine road will also see contractors on site in the coming weeks.

“All contractors are expected to be on-site by the month of September. The good thing is that the roads are very long...na tumepata funding until completion,” stated Nyoro

In Nakuru, the government has pumped part of the money into the Njoro, Piston, Elburgon Road which has stalled for some time. Counties listed in the quick government intervention are Nyeri, Taita Taveta, and Nyamira.

The budget committee says it is working to regularize allocations to pending bills that currently stand at Ksh.150 billion in infrastructure projects.

With President Ruto making development tours across the country, the egg on the government’s face is stalled projects that have exposed the government to ridicule and sharp criticism. In some instances, some projects never took off since they were launched, while others stalled midway.

By Stephen Letoo