Garissa leaders say new road poorly built, demand contractor’s accountability
Making it dual was expected to decongest traffic in Garissa during peak hours and serve as a major infrastructure milestone for the region.
Leaders from Garissa have expressed concern over what they say are poor construction standards on the new Kismayu Road dual carriageway.
The road, which is under the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA), has developed potholes before its completion.
More To Read
- Farmers in Isiolo, Garissa, seven other counties to receive Sh6.3 billion USAID grant
- Lawyer Ahmednasir blasts northern Kenya leaders for 'neglecting' their counties
- 2024 mass flooding that ravaged Garissa and Tana River counties
- Garissa, Turkana's unpaid bills to contractors hit Sh9.7 billion in three months
The dual carriageway was intended to transform Garissa town, but local leaders argue that its current state is unacceptable.
Speaking in Garissa, Environment Cabinet Secretary Adan Duale criticised the quality of the road and instructed national government representatives in Garissa to identify the contractor responsible for the project and question the substandard work.
Duale stated that the road, which is funded by taxpayers, is not being built to acceptable standards. He demanded accountability from the contractor.
"When I leave here, I will call the Cabinet Secretary for Transport and Roads to come and see this before the President visits," Duale said.
He told the contractor to either improve the work or step aside.
Similar to Thika Superhighway
The Cabinet Secretary expressed his vision for the project, stating that the dual carriageway should extend from the Tana River bridge to Modikare, and will be similar to the Thika Superhighway.
Addressing KeNHA's Northern Regional Engineer, Duale insisted that the road must meet the required standards, noting that he was speaking on behalf of the Minister of Transport and Roads.
Hassan Geley, the Baraki Ward MCA, also expressed dissatisfaction with the road's construction. He suggested the halting of the project unless quality work could be guaranteed.
Hassan compared the Kismayu Road construction to a dual carriageway built in Turkana, arguing that the quality of the Garissa project was significantly inferior.
"This road has developed potholes in less than three months. It was meant to be a landmark for Garissa," Hassan said.
He noted that it was disappointing to see a contractor from the region failing to meet expectations. He also criticised the use of inadequate equipment, such as hand tools, for a project of this scale.
The MCA highlighted the challenges motorists face due to the poor state of the road, stating that the confusion caused by the construction has led to accidents, particularly at the junction of Ngamia Road.
He called on the area Member of Parliament Dekow Mohamed Barrow to address the issue and engage KeNHA officials to ensure better work is done.
Kismayu Road connects Garissa to other counties in the north eastern region such as Wajir and Mandera.
Making it dual was expected to decongest traffic in Garissa during peak hours and serve as a major infrastructure milestone for the region. However, its current state has raised concerns about its safety and durability.
Top Stories Today
