Famous road in Kilifi now under construction

By PSCU

President Uhuru Kenyatta Monday launched the construction of the Sh2.1 billion famous Mariakani-Bamba road in Kilifi County.

The President was greeted by thousands of wananchi on his visit to the town of Bamba, immortalised by the song “Safari ya Bamba ni Machero”.

Them Mushrooms, a local band that was popular in the 1970s and 1980s, composed the song to show how difficult it was to travel to Bamba because of the bad state of the road.

But with the tarmacking of the 45km road, the journey to Bamba will no longer be a difficult one; in a few months, travelling to the dusty trading centre will be easier, shorter and smooth.

Already, 13km have been tarmacked, the only tarmac road in Ganze constituency. Another 20km of the road have been gravelled in readiness for tarmacking.

Speaking when he commissioned the road, President Kenyatta said it will take residents minutes or a few hours to reach their destinations. The President said investors will also find it easy to establish businesses in the town.

He took a swipe at the Kilifi County leadership for spending a lot of time criticising national government’s projects, saying the county gets Sh9.6 billion each year since 2013.

‘’They should explain what they have done for the people and leave the national government out of their troubles. I can explain what I have done for the people of Kenya,’’ the President said.

On the issue of water, the President said the government will set aside funds for putting up a desalinisation plant to purify water for the residents.

He said although the Government has been drilling boreholes, the water in the area is salty and hence the need to purify it. He further said the Government will continue providing relief food in the the ongoing drought mitigation programme.

“As concerns the drought situation, the government will scale up the food programme and also provide other requirements to the residents,” said the President.

Responding to the request to upgrade Godoma Secondary to a national status, President Kenyatta directed the Ministry of Education to allocate the school Sh10 million to equip and refurbish it so that it meets the standards.

The President urged the residents of Bamba and Kilifi County to elect leaders who take care of their interests, and not those obsessed with power.

Deputy President William Ruto urged the people of Kilifi to cast their votes in favour of Jubilee because of the Government’s development record in the county.

He singled out various projects which are being implemented, including roads such as Malindi-Sala Gate, Mariakani-Kibauni and Mavueni-Kaloleni roads.

“Do not believe the propaganda that Jubilee will move the port from Mombasa to Naivasha. Is it really possible to move the Indian Ocean?’’ he said.

Kwale Governor Salim Mvurya told residents of the Coast to beware of a clique of leaders which wants to have ‘’control from Vanga to Kiunga’’.

He said the clique has deluded itself that it can determine how Coast counties share their resources.

Ganze MP Peter Shehe said the residents are determined to cast votes for Jubilee in response to the development initiated in the constituency in the past four years.

Kilifi North MP Gideon Mung’aro said it is unfortunate that Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi has persistently criticised the national government and yet he cannot account for the funds allocated to him.

“Every year, Kilifi County receives close to Sh10 billion yet there is nothing to show for it,” said Mung’aro.