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35 wards to miss out on roads fund


More than 35  wards could miss out on road construction kitty  because they are yet to submit their priority road projects to the County Government.

Only 47 out of the total 85 County Reps have submitted their lists of projects to be funded by a Sh2 billion kitty from the National Government.

A total of 290 roads have so far been approved for this year, with Cord dominated areas getting the lion’s share at 200 roads.

Wards represented by the Opposition, Jubilee County Reps, have 90 roads in the list obtained by Nairobi News this week.

Out of the 47 wards, only 16 are represented by TNA Reps.

Among the leaders who are yet to submit their lists are Majority leader Elias Otieno (Kileleshwa), Minority leader Abdi Guyo (Matopeni/Spring Valley), Deputy Speaker Ken Ng’ondi (Kware), Jubilee Chief whip  Hashim Kamau (California), Budget and Finance Committee chairman Michael Ogada (Embakasi) and Labour and Social Services chairman  Wilson Ochola(Utalii).

Some of the roads are only 100 metres long, but act as links to other major roads meaning they will open up the estates. Others are dilapidated tarmac roads with poor drainage making access to the estates a nightmare.

At 10 roads, Kayole South and Ngando Ward in Dagoretti North had the highest number. They were followed by Njiru  and Korogocho, which had eight each.

Upper Savannah submitted four roads, the least so far in the list.

Roads and Transport Executive member Evans Ondieki said the submission was open.

“We have sent several reminders even through the Speaker’s office. But as you know, people do not work with equal speed,” he said.

The upcoming projects will be financed by a joint cooperation between the County Government and the Ministry of Roads, Transport and Infrastructure.

“We are  going to tarmac them. It will take about three years to have them done,” Mr Ondiek said.

In a letter to Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich dated December 19 last year, Mr Ondiek  requested for  Sh 2 billion funding in form of Stimulus due to the city’s strategic position in the economy of the county.

The funds will construct 8 roads in all the 85 wards. This will greatly enhance security, create employment and promote businesses due to accessibility,”  Mr Ondiek wrote.

Last week, Mr Rotich wrote back giving the Department of Roads a go ahead  to  work with the ministry of Infrastructure and Transport on the  projects.

On Monday, County Reps whose wards are not in the list claimed they had done so. Mutu ini County Rep Martin Karanja said, “I gave my list long time. I will need to check with the Roads department.”