President William Ruto’s government through Supplementary Budget for the 2022/2023 financial year, downscaled the construction of five key roads that were started by his predecessor Uhuru Kenyatta.
The downscaling was necessitated after the government cut the infrastructural budget by Ksh47.3 billion which is part of austerity measures instituted to cut foreign borrowing.
Apart from the five key projects, rehabilitation of roads across the country was also stopped according to the the supplementary budget.
Thika-Kenol-Maua Road
The road was one of Uhuru’s last key projects under his administration. His government had planned to dual 27 kilometres of the road.
Under the current proposal, the government will construct the road in two lots; 2.5 kilometres for Kenol to Sagana section and 4 kilometres for Sagana to Marua section.
In total, the government will construct only 6.5 kilometres instead of the envisioned 27 kilometres.
Arusha-Holili-Voi Road
Uhuru’s administration had earmarked to construct 30 kilometres of the road.
The road was supposed to be a transport corridor of the East African Region that linked the Northern Corridor of Voi to the Central Corridor across the common border at Holili/Taveta through Arusha, Babati to Dodoma and Singida.
After the budget cuts, only 1.5 kilometres of the proposed 30 will be constructed.
Mau Mau Road
The Mau Mau Road in Mount Kenya was also hit by Ruto’s proposed austerity measures.
Instead of 49 kilometres, only 13km have been budgeted for in the supplementary budget.
The construction will be divided into 3 phases; Lot 1A and 1B will see 6 kilometres constructed in Kiambu County, Lot 2 will have 4 kilometres constructed in Murang’a County and Lot 3 will be construction of 3 kilometres in Nyeri County.
Horn of Africa Gateway Development Project
The road was part of the previous administration’s plan to open up trade in the Horn of Africa.
98 kilometres of the road was to be constructed linking Kenya with Ethiopia and Somalia.
Only a paltry 30 kilometres will now be constructed.
Kisumu-Miwani-Chemelil-Muhoroni Road
The 20-kilometre road was proposed to connect Miwani, Kibigori, Chemelil and Muhoroni towns in Kisumu County.
According to the supplementary budget, only 5 kilometres of the road will now be constructed.
