Kipchumba Murkomen, Cabinet Secretary for Roads and Transport, has now stated that the destruction of roads in Kisumu town caused by anti-government protests will cost Ksh.200 million to repair.
Speaking in Isiolo County on Thursday, Murkomen chastised the opposition, claiming that continued protests would cost the country money due to damage to roads and other critical infrastructure.
He singled out Kisumu County, claiming that roads in the area had been severely damaged, and that the government would spend Ksh.200 million to repair only a small section of road in the city’s Central Business District.
“Nimegadhabishwa sana, ukiona tunatengeneza barabara kilometer moja tunatumia pesa kadri ya milioni 50 na 80. Alafu unaona mtu ambaye anasema nia yake ni kupunguza gharama ya maisha ameenda kuweka tyres kwa barabara kuichoma,” he lamented.
”Kupitia pesa yao ya taxes wanaambiwa baada ya mwaka tunafanya mainatinance na kesho tunatumia 50-80 million.”
The CS continued: “Ukiona barabara zimechomwa Kisumu for the last two weeks, we will need not less than 200 million kwa area kidogo ya town kuziba ile mashimo yameharibiwa kwa sababu mtu ameenda kuchoma matyres.”
Murkomen reiterated that burning tyres destroys most tarmacs and causes potholes.
In the same breath, Murkomen defended his previous remarks in which he stated that the destruction of the Nairobi Expressway last week would force the Ruto government to cough up Ksh.600 million for repairs.
His announcement sparked a lot of debate on social media, with the majority of Kenyans accusing him of inventing the figure and demanding proof of how he arrived at such an astronomical figure.
However, Murkomen dismissed critics pointing out that roads are expensive to build and maintain, stating that it currently costs between Ksh.50 and Ksh.80 million to build a kilometre of road.
“Juzi niliambia wakenya kuwa tutalipa karibu nusu bilioni kulipia Expressway. Kuna wengine wanafanya mzaha hapo kwa mtandao kwa sababu hawaelewi,” he said.
“Zile machines zote za kusoma magari na kupitisha magari… are not cheap. They are not like those sufurias they are putting on their heads; they are very expensive and will cost the taxpayers.”
