The government has said the Ngong-Suswa road, which has been under construction, is almost complete.
"The 70-kilometre road, which is expected to help in decongesting the Nairobi-Mai Mahiu road, is 90 per cent complete," Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo said, adding that the government is determined to complete the project within the set timelines.
In a statement on Tuesday, May 13, Omollo said the road, which will cut across Kajiado North and Kajiado West sub-counties, will be completed soon and will provide an alternative route for travellers going to Narok, Bomet, Kisii, Kericho, and parts of Nyanza.
In addition to easing traffic on the traditional Mai-Mahiu route, which has long experienced recurrent traffic snarl-ups, Omollo said the new project will help bolster the economies of the Rift Valley and Nyanza regions.
"The ongoing construction of the Ngong-Suswa Road, a 70-kilometre transport corridor cutting across Kajiado North and Kajiado West Sub-Counties, is a key investment under the government's Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA)," he stated.
"The project is 90 per cent complete and is expected to be fully operational soon, with notable progress in sections such as Ngong Kibiku," he added.
So far, according to the PS, the value of land along the new project has skyrocketed, and infrastructures such as petrol stations, markets, and service centres have begun to take shape.
"Local economies are also benefiting, particularly in livestock trade and agribusiness, as improved road access connects farmers and traders to larger markets," he stated.
The announcement comes days after the Deputy Chief of Staff at the Office of the President, Eliud Owalo, on Thursday, May 8, confirmed that the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) had resumed the construction of the 122-kilometre Mamboleo junction-Miwani-Chemelil-Muhoroni-Kipsitet highway.
The highway is expected to link Kisumu, Kericho, Nandi, and Nyamira Counties and will be constructed by different contractors in three phases.
According to Owalo, the Ksh 15.7 billion road had initially stalled due to insufficient funds; however, the government has released adequate funds to ensure the construction of all stalled roads in the country.
Owalo spotlighted that the project will play a key role in elevating the region's economic metamorphosis through boosting regional trade.
"The government has now unlocked the funding challenge for the road sector that we have been witnessing over the past two years. All stalled roads in the country will be completed in the not-too-distant future,” he stated.
