Senate raises query over Murang'a dual carriageway
Transport and Infrastructure Cabinet Secretary James Macharia appearing before the National Assembly Transport Committee at Parliament Buildings on November 10,2015. PHOTO | EVANS HABIL |
What you need to know:
The senators said the government should focus on major highways that would open up the country to neighbouring nations.
Murang’a Senator Kembi Gitura, however, defended the planned highway, saying it would be unfair to drop it in preference to other roads across the country.
Senators have summoned Transport and Infrastructure Cabinet Secretary James Macharia to explain why the government was putting up a dual carriageway in Murang’a County yet many other counties did not have a single tarmac road.
The lawmakers said it was unfair for the national government to invest millions of shillings in a road serving one county yet other areas, especially in the northern region, did not have a single kilometre of tarmac.
The senators said the government should focus on major highways that would open up the country to neighbouring nations instead of putting money into the proposed Kenol-Murang’a-Sagana highway.
MORE VIABLE ROADS
“We really feel slighted that they are doing a dual highway in Murang’a yet many counties do not have a single tarmac road,” said Minority Leader Moses Wetang’ula.
Murang’a Senator Kembi Gitura, however, defended the planned highway, saying it would be unfair to drop it in preference to other roads across the country.
They said Isebania-Migori-Kisumu-Kitale-Lodwar-Juba (South Sudan) and Thika-Nyeri-Isiolo-Moyale-Ethiopia roads have never taken off yet the government wanted to construct a road in one county.
The CS has been summoned by the Roads committee next week to explain the decision to overlook more viable roads.
The queries were prompted by a statement by the CS in the House, in which he said the government was looking for funds to upgrade the road.
