County Government of Kiambu 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 Kiambu County. 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 Kenya. The Kiambu, Limuru, Kikuyu and Thika. [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 Nairobi 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, Juja, Ruiru, 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 Constitution of Kenya 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 Githunguri 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 Gatundu 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