Confusion over Embu road project

A dispute over the construction of a key 100-kilometre ring road cutting across the four sub-counties of Embu County has broken out.

Three Members of Parliament from Embu now allege that they had secured cash for the construction of the Embu-Kibugu-Manyatta-Kianjokoma-Runyenjes-Ugweri-Siakago-Kiritiri-Makima-Karaba road from the national government, days after the county government signed a deal for its construction.

Two weeks ago, the county government signed a memorandum of understanding with a Malaysian construction company to build the road at a cost of Sh3.7 billion.

Governor Martin Wambora said the first 12.2 kilometres would cover the Embu-Kibugu-Kathangariri coffee belt and agricultural hub at a cost of Sh200 million and would start later this month.

However, on Sunday, Embu Senator Lenny Kivuti, Runyenjes MP Cecily Mbarire and Mbeere North MP Muriuki Njagagua said they had lobbied President Uhuru Kenyatta who agreed to have the road funded by the national government.

“The governor should let the national government do the road and utilise the little money it has on other county roads,” said Mr Kivuti, who said he conducted the road survey.

Mr Kivuti said the road would cost at least Sh10 billion against the Sh3.7 billion the county estimates to spend on the same project.

The legislators have already announced that the official launch, slated for August, would be presided over by the President.

Speaking at St Peter’s ACK church during a fundraiser on Sunday, Ms Mbarire said she was confident that the road would be delivered by the national government.

MANAGEABLE COST

During the project launch, Mr Wambora said he was not concerned by the national government's interest in constructing county roads, saying their contribution was welcome to grow the tarmacked road network.

He said the initiative is part of the county’s infrastructural development plan to improve the road network at a manageable cost.

Mr Wambora said the first phase aims to open up the region which hosts a major tea factory, 13 coffee factories as well as notable academic institutions and connects Embu County to Kirinyaga.

According to the governor, the work of the initial 12.2 kilometre Embu-Kibugu road will commence in the coming 2015/2016 financial year soon through the Probase Technology while extensions to other sub counties will follow thereafter.

He said the company would repair the road for the five years after completion.