The Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) General Mohamed Badi was lauded by President Uhuru Kenyatta as being efficient and cost-saving.
Badi disclosed that he has less than two years to change the outlook of Nairobi after years of poor governance. One of the issues the Kenya Air Force officer worked on immediately after he assumed office in March 2020 was recarpeting and refurbishing Nairobi roads.
Working on a fixed budget and without going through the tedious tender processes, NMS constructed an Asphalt plant in Kangundo, Machakos County.
The plant ensured that NMS processes, loads and ferries its own bitumen and asphalt used to construct roads.
"The asphalt that you will process here will be used to make roads in Mukuru, Kibera, Mathare and in all corners of Nairobi," President Uhuru Kenyatta said when he made an impromptu visit at the site on October 9, 2020.
Part of the equipment at the processor was donated to NMS by Intex Construction, one of Kenya's civil engineering companies.
The plant produces over 1.5 tonnes of asphalt per minute and enough material to recarpet up to 3km a day. This cuts down the cost of road production.
NMS also opted to repair broken-down lorries rather than purchasing new trucks for ferrying asphalt and other road construction materials.
Over 40 experts were employed to manage the plant alongside supporting staff who clean, sweep and guard the site.
The 40 professionals include plant operators, drivers, mechanics, engineers and record keepers. They work in two shifts, night and day to ensure NMS achieves its set target before its term ends in mid-2022.
"The most important aspect is to ensure that the temperature is regulated as directed. A lower temperature would produce poor material which would not only be a waste of resources but time too," Vincent Mairura, a plant operator said.
Lucy Achieng, a casual labourer added that Nairobians, especially the unemployed youth, had benefitted from the job opportunities at the plant.
On Monday, January 12, NMS announced 240 vacancies with salaries up to Ksh 34,000. Some of the jobs like drivers and plant operators will work at the asphalt plant.
NMS has so far recarpeted roads across all 17 Sub-counties in Nairobi and major roads such as Kenyatta Avenue, Tom Mboya and Moi Avenue streets. It has also constructed pedestrian walkways and cycling lanes in the city.
The implementation of Nairobi’s transport infrastructure upgrade is being spearheaded by NMS Transport Secretary Engineer Michael Ochieng'.
Watch the video of the NMS Asphalt Plant
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