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Nanyuki-Rumuruti Road Set for Sh3.3bn Upgrade

The 70km road will be upgraded to bitumen standards.

Updated

A road construction project. PHOTO | FILE

A 70-kilometre murram road that links Nanyuki with Rumuruti town, the upcoming headquarters of Laikipia County, is set to undergo a major overhaul as part of the national government’s strategy to stimulate the local economy.  

According to the State Department of Infrastructure Principal Secretary Paul Maringa, the tarmacking of Nanyuki-Rumuruti road is expected to open up one of Kenya’s key tourism destinations for more investments.

“Even as we look for sufficient funds to upgrade this road fully to bitumen standards, we really cannot wait until then. We want to start doing it on stage improvement basis,” Prof. Maringa.

The Nanyuki-Rumuruti road construction project, which will cost Sh3.3 billion, is part of plans to rehabilitate and construct 250 kilometres of roads in the county.

The government has allocated Sh30 billion for the upgrade of roads in Laikipia.

So far, the Kenya Rural Roads Authority has built 223kms of roads at a cost of Sh13 billion while the Kenya National Highways Authority is spending Sh3 billion to build 65km Naipor-Mararal road that links Laikipia and Samburu counties.

“One of our biggest investments in this region is a road that runs from Naipor to Kisima to Mararal, currently 80% complete,” Prof. Maranga said, adding that the government has invested Sh2.6 billion into the project.

“So far, we have a balance of Sh700 million to conclude in the next few months. We are pushing to see it done before the end of April.”

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Meanwhile, the maintenance of 43km Nyahururu-Rumuruti road is nearing completion at a cost of Sh392 million, same as the 45km Rumuruti-Naibor road which cost Sh57 million.

In addition, the maintenance and spot improvement of a 24km stretch covering Gwa Kung’u-Mutara, 9km Doldol to Nanyuki road, and stage improvement of 65km Posta road in Naibor-Kisima- Maralal will be completed this year.

Albert Andeso holds a degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Nairobi. He has extensive experience in construction and has been involved in many roads, bridges, and buildings projects.