Kakamega – Kakamega County Commissioner John Ondego said the national government has since 2013 spent 10.2 billion shillings under the Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA) alone on upgrading roads to safety standards. bitumen in Kakamega County.

Speaking on Wednesday after leading members of the County Development Implementation and Coordinating Committee (CDICC) on a two-day visit to assess the progress of ongoing projects, the county commissioner said that 240 km of county rural roads have been awarded to various contractors, with a total of 135 km fully covered.

Going forward, he said contractors who win government contracts but fail to deliver will be blacklisted.

“Governments award contracts on the basis of proof of capabilities, including financial capabilities and as such we don’t receive excuses for lack of financial means,” he warned.

The CC’s warning comes after one of the contractors on the 26 km stretch of the Ibokolo-Sianda-Namabacha road deserted halfway.

The county commissioner said the government is addressing some of the challenges affecting certain sections of the road, including the relocation of vital utilities such as water lines, utility poles and land encroachment.

He said property owners who have encroached on road allowances must leave as the government has issued notices before road construction begins, adding that in case they fail, the government will enforce the law.

He said a court case which blocked part of one of the roads was also being dealt with.

“The government is building roads for the benefit of the people, which has opened up rural areas and helped improve the flow of goods and services,” he added.

He said the youths were also able to get an income especially following the government directive that unskilled labor must come from the respective localities where the works were being carried out.

KeRRA Western Region Manager Edwin Cheserek said his department monitors contractors to ensure they complete all road projects within budget.

Director of the Presidential Delivery Unit (PDU) Ochengo Onguso said that so far the government has completed the tarring of the 34 km Sigalagala-Butere road and the 57 km Butere-Sidindi-Sigomere-Uguja road. km at a total cost of 4 billion shillings.

He said the CDICC also recommended that the government reconstruct the Lusumu and Nzoia river bridges that connect Kakamega and Bungoma counties.