New low cost road building technology to help counties improve infrastructure

Meru County Executive in-charge of Roads Newton Itobi (2nd right) and NYS Director Cleophas Kemboi during the inspection of the Kianjai-Mikinduri road being constructed using the probase technology on April 1, 2015. Kemboi said that NYS will be trained on how to use the technology and then use it to construct roads in all counties through the National Government. PHOTO | PHOEBE OKALL | NATION MEDIA GROUP

By  AGNES ABOO

What you need to know:

  • The technology known as probase and which has been adopted from Malaysia is currently being used by the Meru County government.
  • NYS Director Cleophas Kemboi said the technology should be adopted as it is helping the youth gain employment.
  • He added that the NYS will use the technology in construction of roads in other parts of the country.
  • Kiambu Governor William Kabogo has also been to Meru to see how the low cost technology works and indicated he will adopt it in his county.
  • Of the 4,000-kilometre road network in Meru, only 350 kilometres are tarmacked.

The National Youth Service (NYS) will adopt a low cost technology in the construction of roads.

The technology known as probase and which has been adopted from Malaysia is currently being used by the Meru County government.

Speaking at Kianjai in Meru during the inspection of the road Wednesday, NYS Director Cleophas Kemboi said the technology should be adopted as it is helping the youth gain employment.

Also Read

“The technology helps the youth to get job opportunities as most of the work does not require machinery. It is also cheaper compared to other technologies,” he said.

He added that the NYS will use the technology to construct roads in other parts of the country.

Trained youth from Meru will be used to train others, he added.

“We will maintain the youth from Meru when we start before we train our own,” he added.

Kiambu Governor William Kabogo has also been to Meru to see how the low-cost technology works and indicated he will adopt it in his county to expand road infrastructure.

REDUCES COST PER KM

While a kilometre of road costs Sh70 million to tarmac at the current market rates, constructing roads using probase standard technology reduces the cost to Sh23 million.

The Malaysian government will give the Meru government a Sh880 million loan to fund the construction of 300 kilometres of roads in its nine sub-counties.

Of the 4,000-kilometre road network in Meru, only 350 kilometres are tarmacked.

The technology, launched in 1998, is currently being used in 13 countries in the world, including Uganda.

Unlike the normal road construction where two layers of road are paved, the new technology uses surface dressing where one layer is compressed until no water can penetrate.

“The pavement structure is improved to between 150mm-200mm, which reduces costs by three times,” Mr Itobi said.

The Malaysian company will maintain the pilot project funded by the Meru County government for five years without extra costs.

The county is waiting for the President’s approval before it can get the loan from Malaysia’s Exim Bank to construct 250 kilometres.

The interest rate is pegged at three percent.

Governor Munya has said the development of an extensive road system is at the heart of his development agenda.

In the headlines