GOVERNOR LAUNCHES UPGRADE OF RURAL ROADS TO BITUMEN STANDARDS IN BUTERE & IKOLOMANI SUB COUNTIES

Kakamega governor H.E. FCPA Wycliffe Amebtsa Oparanya today commisioned construction of two key rural roads in Butere and Ikolomani sub counties under the rural bitumen roads construction programme per sub county.

The 9.2 kilometres Bushiangala-Eregi-Lusiola road in Ikolomani sub county, a key road connecting Ikolomani subcounty from Bushiangala to Vihiga county at Chavakali, will now be upgraded to bitumen standards at a cost of Kshs. 337 million as the upgrade of the 5.5 kilometres Tsalwa-Ombwaro-Manyulia road costs the county government of Kakamega Kshs. 216 million.

Speaking during the launch, H.E. the governor said every sub county will benefit from a bitumen road as a way of improving connectivity and communication across the county. “The contractors on Bushiangala and Tsalwa roads have been given 9 and 8 months respectively to complete these roads as the county has set aside enough funds for that purpose,” he said. The County government has already upgraded to bitumen standards Likuyani-Soyi-Kogo road (Likuyani) Lumakanda-Town road (Lugari) Khayega-Shinyalu road (Shinyalu), Shibuli-Bukura road (Lurambi)-ongoing and Akatsa-Matioli-Khwisero road (Lurambi/Khwisero). Also in the pipeline is construction of Matungu-Ogaalo road (Matungu), Ingotse-Navakholo road (Navakholo) and Lumakanda-Mwamba road in Lugari.

Governor Oparanya said the programme is being implemented in phases due to insufficient funds and added that he had already initiated talks with Vihiga County governor H.E. Dr. Wilbur Otichillo to facilitate completion of a small section of the Bushiangala-Eregi-Lusiola (Chavakali) road that connects the two counties of Vihiga and Kakamega. “Recommendations from some stakeholders during yesterday’s Bulding Bridges Initiative (BBI) meeting at Nzoia, Bungoma county to have regional governments set up are not misplaced as it will guarantee a centralized coordination of development in the five Western counties to ensure no single county is left behind in matters development,” the governor said.

The event also witnessed the official handing over of Shibuname community water project to Kakamega County government by Acacia Mining Company. The Kshs 7.8 million project is situated at Isulu, Idakho Central ward, Ikolomani sub county.

Also present were the deputy governor H.E. Prof. Philip Museve Kutima, Ikolomani MP Hon. Benard Shinali, CECMs Dr. Collins Matemba and Mr. Baraza Wangwe, MCAs led by deputy speaker Hon. Soita Kasaya, Chief Officer for Roads Eng. Joseph Sweta and the sub county administrators of Ikolomani and Butere sub counties, among others.