President Uhuru Kenyatta has fingered infrastructure improvement as the trigger to economic prosperity in Kenya and committed his Government to invest heavily in the sector to spur growth.
During the launch of mega projects in Mombasa, the President said free movement of goods and people will enhance social economic development and open up rural Kenya for posterity.
“It is a great pleasure to be here with you today, to launch the 2nd package of the Mombasa Port Area Road Development, running from Mwache – Tsunza- Mteza (Dongo Kundu)”, the President said at Likoni.
The President described the Dongo Kundu project as a unique piece of infrastructure with provisions to integrate seamlessly with the Port of Mombasa, Moi International Airport, Standard Gauge Railway Mombasa Terminus, the Nairobi – Mombasa Highway, the upcoming Mombasa Northern Bypass and the Likoni Special Economic Zones.
In November 2018, Uhuru opened the road between Miritini to Mwache, which is the 1st package of the road corridor.
The two projects, that is Package 2 & 3 once complete, will decongest Mombasa town by providing a shorter alternative for vehicles from hinterland headed to the South Coast, as it connects the Nairobi-Mombasa (A8) Road at Miritini and the Mombasa-Lunga Lunga highway at Kibundani. It will also decongest the Likoni channel which is the only connector to the South Coast at the moment.
It will also spur the region economically as it connects the Likoni Special Economic Zones and the Dongo Kundu Port that shall be constructed by the Kenya Ports Authority.
He said the Government recognizes that in order to achieve substantial economic growth and reduce poverty in the country, there is need to continue looking for ways to open up markets to other parts of the country and the region.
“As you all know, poor road infrastructure connectivity is a deterrent to the development objectives of our country”, the President said.
The project is one of the hall marks for the ‘Big Four’ Agenda of ensuring food security, affordable housing, manufacturing and affordable healthcare for all, which are at the heart of the Jubilee Government’s plans.
The President said the Government shall continue to put in place measures to ensure proper implementation of development projects both in national and county governments so that as to attain the economic blueprint of Vision 2030 which aspires to have a country with a good and firmly interconnected transport and communication infrastructure.
Attainment of this vision as well as the Sustainable Development Goals will depend heavily on improved road infrastructure like the Dongo Kundu project.
The project is being implemented at a cost of Kshs. 24 billion, jointly financed by the Kenyan Government and the Government of Japan. The first phase was constructed at a total cost of Shs.11 Billion while the third phase will be implemented at a total cost of Shs.4 Billion.
“I want to thank the Government of Japan, which has come to our aid in implementing this project. Indeed they have proven themselves reliable partner in implementing several other infrastructure projects”, Uhuru said.
