Kitale-Lodwar Road Closed For Repair

The Kenya National Highway Authority on Thursday announced the closure of the Kitale-Lodwar road for repair.

All motorists were barred from using the road as repair works started at Kainuk Bridge.

The road is particularly important because it will be used by trucks transporting oil to Mombasa from Lokichar, Turkana County.

[caption caption="Section of Kitale-Lodwar Road"][/caption]

Heavy trucks had been proscribed from using the bridge since it was repaired after it collapsed last year.

A temporary drift was later constructed for them at Kainuk but has been unusable for the last two months after River Malmalite's floodwaters destroyed it.

Turkana County Commissioner Seif Matata promised that normal traffic will have resumed by Sunday before the trucks are flagged off by President Uhuru Kenyatta.

His sentiments were echoed by Petroleum and Mining Cabinet Secretary John Munyes who expressed his satisfaction with the repairs.

"I applaud the relentless works of the officers from the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Defence.

"They are working day and night to ensure the bridge is complete ahead of the flag off on June 3.

"I would like to assure Kenyans that the bridge will be completed for our oil to be transported to the port of Mombasa," he was quoted by the Daily Nation.

[caption caption="Kitale-Lodwar Road"][/caption]