The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir has blamed disruptions in global petroleum supplies for delays in completing the Rironi-Naivasha dual carriageway, saying the project is now expected to be ready by December.
Chirchir said the shortage of bitumen, a critical material used in road construction, had slowed down work on the highway, with prices rising sharply over the past six months.
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Speaking on Friday during an inspection of the ongoing works, the Cabinet Secretary linked the supply challenges to geopolitical tensions involving the United States and Iran, which have disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a major global route for petroleum products.
He said the difficulties in sourcing bitumen had increased construction costs and affected the pace of work.
Chirchir revealed that the price of bitumen had climbed from Sh90 per kilogramme six months ago to Sh220, more than doubling within the period.
The government is considering ways to reduce import costs by combining orders and using larger vessels to transport the material in bulk.
“If we consolidate and bring bigger vessels, we should be able to manage the cost of building our roads,” Chirchir said.
Despite the challenges, the CS expressed confidence that the contractor could complete the Rironi-Naivasha section before the end of the year.
He urged the contractor to meet the revised deadline and ensure the road is opened to motorists by December.
“We want to urge the contractor to keep to the promise and ensure that by December this road is fully opened up to Naivasha for traffic,” he said.
October deadline pushed to December
The latest timeline represents a shift from the October 30 completion date previously announced by Chirchir in September.
At the time, the Cabinet Secretary had indicated that the Rironi-Naivasha section would be completed and opened to traffic by the end of October.
Once the section is completed, the government intends to focus on the remaining stretches of the wider corridor, including the Rironi-Mai Mahiu-Naivasha road.
The highway is part of the broader Rironi-Mau Summit road project, which is intended to improve transport links between Nairobi and western Kenya.
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Chirchir said completing the dual carriageway would help ease traffic congestion, shorten travel times and improve the movement of passengers and goods.
The route is a major transport link for motorists travelling towards Naivasha, Nakuru and other destinations in the Rift Valley and western parts of the country.
The government expects the wider road project to improve transport efficiency, reduce delays and lower the cost of doing business along the busy corridor.
