We must conserve environment- Kibaki

President Kibaki has directed that implementation of development projects must uphold environmental conservation.

He stressed that construction and development projects should not translate to turning Kenya’s urban centres into concrete jungles.

He directed NEMA and other relevant government authorities to ensure that road contractors and private real estate developers always have a green environmental plan.

“I direct that NEMA and other relevant authorities follow up on this issue so that beautiful greenery is part of our development process," said President Kibaki.

He was speaking when he officially launched the construction of Nairobi Western Ring Roads at Likoni Lane, off Dennis Pritt Road.

During the occasion, the President underlined that the government wants urban roads network constructed to excellent standards to cater for the transportation needs of city residents and to facilitate rapid economic investments in urban areas.

President Kibaki also assured city residents and Kenyans in general that the government was concentrating on tackling traffic congestion.

“The construction of the Nairobi Western Ring roads is a demonstration of my government’s commitment to address traffic congestion," he said.

The Head of State noted that construction of the Nairobi Western Ring Roads is part of other projects that the government was implementing in the city of Nairobi and other major urban areas to alleviate the worsening problem of traffic congestion.

Other completed and ongoing projects include the widening of Uhuru Highway and expansion of the Thika road to accommodate increased traffic, the President said.

He observed: “Other measures include construction of inter-changes and overpasses to streamline traffic flow and construction of the Nairobi Eastern and Northern bypasses to channel transit traffic away from the city centre.”

President Kibaki also expressed satisfaction that a Master Plan for Urban Transport had been finalized and also identified additional missing links for development.

“Further, the government will be expanding Ngong and Outering roads to dual carriageway status.  The expansion and improvement is expected to improve traffic flow and reduce congestion. 

"I urge the Ministry for Roads to accord priority to  implementation of these projects so as to ease traffic congestion in Nairobi," said President Kibaki.

In addition to these efforts, the President noted that the government undertook a study on the introduction of a mass transit system within the Nairobi metropolitan area with the assistance of African Development Bank.

The study, the Head of State said, identified six corridors, Langata road, Ngong road, Mombasa road, Limuru road, Thika road and Waiyaki way that could be served by a Bus Rapid Transit System and a Light Rail Transit System or a combination of both.

He thanked the Government of Japan for financing the project to the tune of Sh1.9bn and commended the Ministry of Roads and the Kenya Urban Roads Authority for working hard to ensure that the project is implemented.

“I recall that we first discussed the financing of the link roads during my state visit to Japan in 2004.  I am therefore happy that this project is now taking off,” President Kibaki reminisced.

He expressed gratitude to the European Union for showing willingness to finance several additional Missing Link roads and to African Development Bank and the World Bank for financing various studies.

President Kibaki said: “I thank JICA for financing the study that identified various roads for development and improvement in order to address traffic congestion in Nairobi.”

Speaking during the occasion, Prime Minister Raila Odinga commended President Kibaki’s leadership which has seen landmark improvement in the country’s road network.

Mr Odinga observed that since the President came to office in 2003, the length of the country’s  road network that has been upgraded to bitumen standards has doubled.

Roads minister Franklin Bett assured President Kibaki and Kenyans in general that resources allocated to his ministry for roads development ad maintenance will be utilised efficiently.

He also assured that his ministry has put in place measures to alleviate the problem of traffic congestion in all cities and urban areas, especially Nairobi.

"Some of the targeted interventions in the city of Nairobi include the expansion of Langata Road through the construction of a dual carriage way from Kenya Wildlife Service gate to an inter-change at the Bomas junction," Mr. Bett said.

The minister added that the improvement of Mombasa Road, Uhuru Highway and Waiyaki way with a flyover and inter-change is on course.

On his part, Japanese Ambassador Toshihisa Takata pledged his Government's continued support to Kenya's infrastructural development as a true development partner.

Other speakers included Regional Development minister Fred Gumo, who is also the area MP,  Nairobi Metropolitan minister Njeru Githae and Roads Permanent Secretary Eng. Michael Kamau among others.