The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) on Saturday, July 1, closed the Muhoroni - Kipsitet Road which connects Kisumu City and Kericho County, in the Rift Valley.
In a statement, KeNHA regretted the inconveniences that the closure of the road had caused to the many motorists who ply the route on a daily basis.
However, KeNHA noted that it was important for its engineers to attend to the road which had seriously been damaged by unknown individuals over the previous few months.
"We wish to inform the public that a section of Muhoroni - Kipsitet Road, shall be closed for three days from Saturday, July 1, to Monday, July 3," KeNHA notified members of the public in a statement.
Further, KeNHA explained that the Muhoroni - Kipsitet Road will remain closed between 6 am to 7 am, during which no one will be allowed to drive on it.
"This is to allow for the re-installation of Armco Culvert, at Muhoroni - Kipsitet Junction which was vandalized," said KeNHA Director-General Engineer Kungu Ndung'u.
Engineer Ndung'u also advised motorists traveling to Kisumu or Kericho to consider using alternative routes for the three days when the road remained impassible.
"Motorists heading towards Kisumu and vice versa were advised to use the Muhoroni - Chemelil - Awasi Road as an alternative route.
"Motorists are further urged to exercise caution and road courtesy as they cooperate with police for better management of traffic," KeNHA Director-General Engineer Kungu Ndung'u advised.
The road links two very important towns, with Muhoroni being a major commercial centre for Kisumu City, hosting a population of around 14,000 people.
Kericho, on the other hand, is home to the best of Kenyan Tea which is renowned worldwide for its taste. In fact, the county has a designated area known as Chai Square, symobolizing the area's connection to high quality tea.
Kericho also hosts some of the largest tea companies which outsource labour from other counties including Kisumu.
In the Finance Act 2023, the government allocated Ksh3.58 billion that will be used to complete the reconstruction of the grand 63-kilometer Kisumu-Miwani-Chemelil-Muhoroni-Kipsitet road.
The road, which was first built in the early 1960s, had become worn out due to heavy use by cane transport trucks and tractors and perennial vandalism. Several sections of the road had also been damaged by floods over the years.
The project, which is being carried out by the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA), includes the dualling of the Mamboleo intersection and the construction of service lanes, pedestrian walkways, and street lighting.
A seven-meter single-carriageway will also be constructed near the Great Lakes University section, with two-meter wide shoulders on the entire stretch. It will also have service lanes, pedestrian walkways, and street lighting around the area.
The first phase of the project, which will cost Ksh908 million, is expected to be completed in the next financial year. The remaining two phases will cost Ksh1.2 billion and Ksh1.4 billion, respectively.
The road is expected to improve connectivity between the four towns and boost economic activity in the region. It will also provide a safer and more convenient alternative to the longer Kericho-Kisumu road going through Awasi and Ahero.
The project is part of the government's plan to improve the country's road network. In the last financial year, the government spent ksh100 billion on road construction and maintenance.
