Major roads and bridges in the Nyanza region are conspicuously missing in the latest Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) floated tenders for road maintenance released on August 15, raising eyebrows after all the other parts of the country received the projects under the Road Maintenance Levy Fund (RMLF).
KeNHA has listed 165 roadworks to be undertaken across 11 regions for quarters one and two in the Financial Year 2023-2024, but roads in opposition chief Raila Odinga's political bedrock are not included.
The road agency has only listed one road that connects Kisii to Kadongo, extending to Ahero in a region with many roads in disrepair.
In President William Ruto’s backyard, Rift Valley, KeNHA has earmarked a total of 40 road infrastructure to be maintained. South Rift will have 10 roads developed while North Rift 30 roads.
In Mt Kenya, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua's home region, a total of 37 roads will be maintained using taxpayers' money.
Out of the roads budgeted for, 11 will be in Central while the rest are in Upper Eastern which consists of Meru, Tharaka Nithi, and Embu Counties.
In North Eastern, the government will recarpet 37 roads. The region has one of the highest shares of road development under KeNHA.
In Lower Eastern which consists of Kitui, Makueni, and Machakos Counties, KeNHA will undertake 22 roadwork maintainances.
The western region's 10 roads are earmarked for maintenance while the Coast region will be getting only 6 roads.
KeNHA has also earmarked two roads for maintenance at Headquarters and six roads in Nairobi. At Headquarters, KeNHA has invited tenders for consultancy services for construction supervision of the New Tana River Bridge and approach Roads along UkasiGarissa-Modika (A3) Road and its construction.
Mariakani -Kwa Jomvu (A8) Road in the Coast Region will also given a framework contract for handling emergencies.
Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke, a lobby group Linda Ugatuzi announced that it would be petitioning the parliament on why Nyanza was left out.
“Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua warned us that if legislators did not vote for Finance Bill, there would be no development. Is the government living true to its threat?” the group's director Prof Fred Ogola posed.
The Professor further noted that Nyanza deserved its share of development considering that the region contributed to fuel levies like every other part of the country.
Should Parliament not urgently take up the matter, Ogola threatened to escalate the matter to the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC).
