County Government of Department of Roads, Transport, Public Works and Utilities

County improves dilapidated and neglected roads to spur trade and development growth Message from the Governor e all recognize the benefits of a better infrastructure in . Apart from upgrading Improved capacity and better W the existing road connectivity between town centres boosts trade, and creates growth and prosperity. The network, the County Government of Kiambu has placed government will build improvements in transport infrastructure at new roads to open up the core of its development agenda. those areas that have Kiambu County welcomes local investment into our major infrastructure projects, in the past been left including roads, modern market places, behind in boda boda sheds, water, sewage and storm H.E. William Kabogo addressing drainage systems - through fair, open, H.E. William Kabogo roads development.” members of the public at Kikuyu transparent, competitive processes. Governor, Kiambu County roads inspection. The transport sector is an important pillar of the economic growth and development of Kiambu County. A sound transport network wares to market centres. for employment for our young people. Road plans and projects will also be made enables efficient movement of people, Furthermore, good roads are essential For example, murram roads can easily public so that people can monitor their goods and services. It also facilitates trade for the development of commerce, tourism be maintained using the large labour implementation and ensure they get value between peoples across town centres. Road and other services. Apart from upgrading force available in the rural areas. This for their taxes. transport is the lifeline of Kiambu County’s the existing road network, the government will contribute to the on-going poverty I would like to call upon everyone in development, since all the commercial freight will build new roads to open up those areas reduction initiatives, while ensuring that Kiambu County to co-operate and give his/ that have in the past been left behind in communities participate more directly in transport relies on roads. her full support to the County Government My government is in the process of roads development. the developments taking place in their of Kiambu’s drive to develop further our reforming and restructuring the roads sector, My government, will address, among areas. road infrastructure by doing your own part. which is inadequate and dilapidated due other things, efficiency and transparency The County Government of Kiambu, to many years of neglect. The department in the utilization of funds meant for will ensure that local communities are The future of our infrastructure projects is a of roads, transport and public works is infrastructure development, so that the fully involved in the identification and responsibility for all of us. We must make it committed to improving the existing road people of Kiambu can get best returns prioritization of road development projects, prosper in the right direction for the benefit network in the rural areas to enable our from these investments. More importantly, so that resource allocations are responsive of the current generation and those who farmers, other small-scale traders move their road construction provides opportunities to the needs of the targeted communities. will come after us.

development of Rapid Bus Transport Key to boost trade, create growth and prosperity in the county outlined systems, particularly on Kiambu Road By PALOMA GATABAKI “Quite rightly, thus, improvements in residents in Kiambu are dairy farmers in conjunction with a modern Parking [email protected] transport infrastructure by upgrading and the county is touted as one of top Silos in metropolitan towns such as and EVANS ONGWAE the network which was inadequate milk producing county in . The Kiambu, , Kikuyu and . [email protected] and dilapidated due to many years of county government thus plans to take “We are however aware that most The County Government of Kiambu’s neglect, as well as building new ones, advantage of that by promoting and PPP contracts can be complex and Department of Roads, Transport, will enable our farmers and other supporting bio-gas generation from risky. The Department will therefore Public Works and Utilities has done small-scale traders move their wares to animal waste in addition to plans to consult and seek guidance from the quite well, given the challenges it market centres and beyond. Improved generate electricity from solid waste. National Government and research faced over the last one year since capacity and better connectivity To deal with traffic congestion and widely before embarking on this.” its formation. That is the view of the between town centres will boost trade, perennial traffic jams, she notes that This will be in addition to plans County Executive Committee Member and create growth and prosperity and there is an urgent need to introduce a by the Metropolitan Service in charge of the Department, Eng. make Kiambu the largest and most mass transport system, be it commuter Improvement Programme (NAMSIP), Njeri Mburu. effective service County in Kenya,” trains or rapid bus transport systems, which is funded by the World She says: “Being the first year of Eng. Njeri Mburu argues the trained engineer. to decongest the roads and reduce Bank that seeks an improvement devolved system, we have experienced The CEC says the plan is to use solar the resulting negative impacts on the County Executive Committee Member of the transport system through many challenges associated with energy for street lighting and every county economy. Department of Roads, Transport, the development of an integrated transition. Everything was happening other public institution where this is Eng. Mburu reports that the Public Works and Utilities transport system to serve the at the same time including setting practicable. The Department is also Department has not yet entered metropolitan areas. The programme up structures, change management, working closely with the Department into any public-private partnerships led to shortage of qualified technical includes the rehabilitation of existing familiarization with new laws, of Water, Environment and Natural or PPPs. “We, however, realize staff.” railway lines and train stations for systems and procedures as well as Resources and plans to develop mini- the immense potential of these Eng. Mburu adds that rural road commuter transport to and from the implementation of infrastructure hydro stations to generate cheap arrangements in availing the much infrastructure plays a great important metropolitan towns to Nairobi City; projects. electricity for local consumption. needed capital investments for role in transportation, socio-economic parking areas and access roads to We have also encountered delays It is also collaborating with the infrastructure development. We plan and cultural development and poverty in procurement due to inadequate Rural Electrification Authority (REA) in to borrow a number of infrastructure the rail stations; and, non-motorized alleviation. They are important too in capacity to undertake huge volume identifying all public institutions which ideas from developed countries who traffic lanes. Thika, , , Limuru reducing economic and cultural gaps of procurements in the county. The are not connected to the grid. have witnessed effective PPP vehicles and Kikuyu towns in Kiambu County between different areas. lengthy recruitment process has also Incidentally, a significant majority of for development. Of interest to us is the will be beneficiaries of this plan. County Government of Kiambu ROADS Department of Roads, Transport, SECTOR, ONE Public Works and Utilities YEAR ON

Residents’ choices given top priority NEW AND FINISHED PROJECTS in roads rehabilitation exercise By PALOMA GATABAKI [email protected] and EVANS ONGWAE [email protected] ounty Executive Committee Member Eng. Njeri Mburu - Department of Roads, Transport, C Ndeiya Ward – Gichagi access Road Quarry Chips. Public Works and Utilities, notes that the has made it compulsory to involve the public in the decision making and prioritization of projects within the counties. Led by the Governor, H.E. William Kabogo, the County Government held public Site inspection at bus park. forums in every sub-county during the preparation of the County Integrated After identifying and prioritising statutory regulations, procedures and Newly constructed road in South Sub-County. Development Plan. The aim was to projects, the total estimate for the best practices and complied with. collect and collate the views of the Department was Sh.1 billion out of “Errors, omissions and shoddy work in the County Budget Sh.7.6 billion, addition to corruption and fraud can be public on the challenges faced that making it approximately 13 per cent of extremely expensive to the public,” she required the attention of the county’s the Budget. Its Development Budget adds. management. amounted to Sh.693 million. “There Not only is there close supervision and was a budget deficit of about Sh.500 regular inspection of ongoing works, million. This shortfall meant that planned the Department has also introduced As part of budgeting process, they development projects were scaled down, compulsory testing of materials used held Budget Forums in every sub-county and the installation of flood lights in all by the contractors. “We also make sure where the residents identified their priority the wards was deferred altogether” Eng that we use locally available materials Roads inspection in Kikuyu. projects. In addition, the Department Mburu explains. wherever possible; and, that there is decided to hold regular meetings and Nonetheless, infrastructure projects monthly reporting and comparison of workshops with sector stakeholders such as have taken up a significant portion of cost of construction for various Sub Members of the County Assembly (MCAs), Kiambu County’s budget. In order to utilise Counties”, she adds. Business Associations, Matatu (public the funds allocated more effectively, Eng. Because of these measures, the County service vehicle) operators and contractors. Mburu has found it necessary to put in has been able to bring down the costs It was in these meetings and fora that the place a Quality Assurance and Ethics per kilometre significantly. “We have challenges facing the sector were identified Committee to inspect and monitor been able to achieve quality rural roads and communicated. construction projects to ensure that (gravel/quarry chips) at a cost of Sh.1.5 The county government also made good value for money is achieved and relevant million per Kilometre. use of social media platforms as a form of During the last Financial Year, new roads connecting with Kiambu county residents have been opened and constructed in Kikuyu Bus Park Toilet. through Governor’s Online Forum in Twitter Kikuyu town, Ndeiya Ward, Gatuanyaga, and Facebook dubbed “Kiambu Chat”. and Gatundu North. Eng. Mburu Through all these channels, the County expects to open atleast 500 km within Government received extended feedback Errors, omissions and the strategic period, particularly in less on priority areas. shoddy work in addition developed areas such as Ndeiya, Ngoliba “We have also used the print media to to corruption and and parts of Kalimoni. “We also have place Public Notices inviting the County plans to construct by-passes and missing residents to submit their inputs towards fraud can be extremely links to improve traffic movement in key the Sector Strategic Plan and Bills”, says Eng. expensive to the public.” towns such as Kiambu, Thika and Kikuyu” Mburu. the Department head articulates. Wangige Bus Park Extension.

CEC leading a site inspection tour on the ongoing Ngoingwa –Tola road in Thika Township ward. Newly constructed road in Kalimoni Ward Juja H.E. William Kabogo tries his hand on a grader in Githunguri Ndumberi road. Sub-County (Quarry Chips). Kikuyu roads construction. County Government of Kiambu ROADS Department of Roads, Transport, SECTOR, ONE Public Works and Utilities YEAR ON

County targets constructing 2,500 km of rural access roads by 2018 By PALOMA GATABAKI [email protected] and EVANS ONGWAE [email protected] he County Government of Kiambu has categorized its roads into three groups, Tnamely: rural access roads; urban roads; and, major link roads. Rural access roads are classified as those small feeder roads that criss-cross the rural interior of the county. In the last financial year, the government constructed approximately 500 Githunguri - Ndumberi road at Ikinu town Ongoing Githunguri - Ndumberiroad project Roads inspection in Kikuyu. km of rural roads using gravel and quarry chips. before reconstruction. under construction The work involved heavy grading, shaping of the roads and storm drainage, gravelling/quarry In addition, the Department has targeted a Kiambu County is one of those regions. chips, watering and compaction of the materials. minimum of 60 km of existing major link roads She adds that the county government realizes The county government has a strategic target of for rehabilitation, as well as upgrading a similar the importance of providing the necessary constructing a minimum 2,500 km of rural access length from gravel to bituminous standards by infrastructure in developed areas in order to roads by 2018. 2018. improve mobility and living conditions of the “I am very happy to state that every one of Regarding urban roads and street parkings, people. A significant proportion of the county’s the sixty wards benefitted, ensuring equitable the county government will invest a significant development budget will be invested in this distribution of available resources”, CEC Eng. proportion of county’s budget to urban centres in financial year to provide the much needed Mburu remarks. It has meant residents having Kiambu. This will in turn improve living standards, infrastructure. improved access to markets, hospitals, schools and business environment and importantly, facilitate “Due to limited space, encroachment on the other public facilities in addition to the resultant revenue collection. In liaison with the Nairobi roads and the unavoidable conflict with daily CEC inspects repair of a grader at Mantrac Kenya. economic development. Metropolitan Directorate, the Department activities of the residents, construction of such Major link roads connect major towns and prepared designs for urban roads in Kikuyu, Ruiru, infrastructure has proved to be a major challenge”, commercial centres within the county. They are Limuru and Juja towns. Construction works is admits the Department’s CEC. “Such concerns will also the main links to national trunk roads. The about to commence for Ruiru and Kikuyu towns. be addressed through enhanced urban planning, Ndumberi-Githunguri road for example, is a The target is to upgrade a minimum of 50 km strict development control and enforcement of major link road connecting Githunguri town to of gravel roads in the urban areas to bitumen Building Code”, says Eng. Mburu. Kiambu and Nairobi. “The road was in dire state standards by 2018. The Department is also in the process of of dilapidation having completely failed in some Eng. Njeri Mburu observes that many regions developing a Sector Strategic Plan that will map sections and developed very many potholes”, in Kenya have experienced rapid urban growth out rehabilitation, improvement and upgrading explains Eng. Mburu. The road is currently without the corresponding growth in development of the existing road network as well as opening undergoing rehabilitation financed and managed of the urban infrastructure facilities and services, new access roads. Clear targets and timelines will by the County Government of Kiambu at a cost of in particular roads, transport and public works. be set to guide further development up to 2018. Construction of a bus park at Nderi Town. Sh.340 million. The scope of the project includes total reconstruction of failed sections in Ting’ang’a, Ikinu and Gathanji; repair of all potholes; repair of shoulders; cleaning and repair of storm water drainage; and, re-carpeting the entire 17 km stretch using 35mm Asphalt Concrete (bituminous material). Road furniture such as markings, road signs, and guard rails will also be installed. So far, the contractor has completed 20 percent of the works. This project is set for completion by June 2015 and Eng. Mburu considers this as one of the milestone achievements by the County Constructed Bus Park at Dagoretti. Government in its first year in office. Utugi Road in Lari before construction. Utugi Road in Lari after construction.

Ndumberi-Githunguri road is currently undergoing rehabilitation financed and managed by the County Government of Kiambu at a cost of Sh.340 million.” De-silting of drainage at Kikuyu Town. Gatamaiyu Kiandutu Road in Lari. Governor launches Muthure market in Kikuyu.

CEC launches road construction in Ruiru. Boda Boda Shell Ikinu Ward. Opening of storm water drainage, Kakuzi road, Thika. New roads, Kugeria and Mushroom Estates, Kiambu SC. For more information and a detailed list of all completed projects and additional photos of the County Government of Kiambu, visit our Website: www.kiambu.go.ke