President Uhuru Turns His Focus To Legacy Projects Across All Regions In Kenya

President Uhuru Kenyatta has taken personal charge of the milestone government projects and has lately been traversing the country to supervise some and commission others as he seeks to cement his legacy before his term expires in 2022.

From Coast to Western, Central, Nyanza, Eastern, Rift Valley, Nairobi and North Eastern, the government has initiated projects that would leave an indelible mark in those regions.

The initiatives are complemented by many other projects, a majority involving road and water. Uhuru has toured the vast Rift Valley region to launch and commission several projects.

These include the KSh 160 billion toll highway from Nairobi to Mau Summit. The expansive project involves widening of Rironi-Mai Mahiu–Naivasha road to becoming a seven-metre carriageway.

It will also include the construction of a four-kilometre elevated highway through Nakuru town, and the building and improvement of interchanges along the highway.

Key projects that are already underway include the Kapchorwa-Suam-Kitale road as well as the KSh 8 billion Eldoret Southern Bypass, to be completed before 2022.

Further, the government has allocated KSh 6.5 billion for the expansion of the Rift Valley Textile Company which is expected to offer employment opportunities to more than 3, 000 youths.

About KSh 3 billion has been spent on the expansion of water projects in Eldoret and Iten towns. Other legacy projects include the Kipchoge and Kamariny stadiums in Eldoret and Iten towns.

The president has also issue title deeds to Trans Nzoia, Uasin Gishu and Elgeyo Marakwet residents.In Nairobi, the KSh 63 billion Nairobi Expressway is underway.

The project is a Class A standard, state of the art four-lane dual carriageway designed to have 18.2km on the ground and 8.9km elevated.

It runs from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to James Gichuru junction along Waiyaki Way. The project is expected to be completed by April next year.

The government is also constructing the KSh 17 billion James Gichuru Junction-Rironi road, and the 16km Nairobi Western bypass to ease traffic.

Once-neglected North Eastern region has benefited from Uhuru’s development agenda. The government secured KSh 81 billion for the construction of roads and implementation of ICT projects.

Part of the money will be used to upgrade the 735km Isiolo-Mandera road and also be used on laying a fiber optic cable under the Horn of Africa Gateway Development Project (HoAGDP).

The government has also delivered the Garissa power substation at a cost of KSh3.5 billion and the street lighting project to boost security and trade by facilitating a 24-hour economy.

In Central Kenya, the government is constructing KSh 30 billion Kenol-Makutano-Karatina-Marua highway, cutting across Nyandarua, Murang’a and Nyeri counties.

The Mau Mau cluster network connecting Nyeri, Murang’a, Nyandarua and Kiambu counties is also under construction at the cost of KSh 27 billion and the rehabilitated 240-kilometre Nairobi-Nanyuki metered gauge railway to ease transportation goods and open up the region for trade and economic progress.

Key among the projects in Nyanza include the reopening of the KSh 3 billion refurbished Kisumu port, the historic MV Uhuru 1 which was refurbished by KDF at the cost of KSh 50 million and also the Kisumu Kenya Shipyard Limited, a state agency under the management of KDF charged with the responsibility of repairing and maintaining ships in Lake Victoria.

Other projects commissioned by the president include a KSh 2.4 billion water project in Gem Yala and KSh 1.4 billion Akala-Wagai road in the constituency.

The Jubilee administration is also working with the Kisumu county government to build Jomo Kenyatta International Stadium at the cost of KSh 450 million.

In May, Uhuru launched the ambitious Lamu Port after about nine years of relentless construction.

Through the Lamu-Port-South Sudan Ethiopia Transport Corridor Project (LAPSSET), the investment will connect Lamu with Ethiopia and South Sudan and spur economic growth.

When complete, the KSh 310 billion port will have 32 berths, making it the largest deep-water port in sub-Saharan Africa.

The KSh 28 billion Dongo Kundu bypass, also known as Mombasa Southern Bypass Highway, is under construction.

Upon completion, the bypass will connect Mombasa Mainland West to Mombasa Mainland South, without entering Mombasa Island. In June, the head of state launched KSh 10 billion Kenya Marine Fisheries Socio-Economic Development Project.

In Western, the 98km Kisumu – Kakamega – Webuye road has been completed, and so is the 58km Webuye- Kitale road. Uhuru’s administration also fulfilled the promise of tarmacking the elusive Chwele-Lwakhakha road.

The 62km Webuye-Malaba road is under construction, the same as the 60km Eldoret-Webuye road. 8.

The president visited Ukambani region where he supervised the progress of multi-billion projects that his government is implementing.

Some of the mega investments in Ukambani include the KSh 42 billion Thwake dam and the high-end ultra-modern Konza Technopolis Development Authority (KoTDA) and the National Data Centre that will be the biggest in East Africa, a key flagship project of Kenya’s Vision 2030 economic development.

Other than the two mega investments, Uhuru has also commissioned several road construction projects in Ukambani that include the 192km Kibwezi-Mutomo-Kitui-Migwani route, which is part of the Mombasa-Isiolo-Addis Ababa Transport Corridor.

The KSh 18 billion Kibwezi-Kitui road is also under construction.