County Government of Laikipia

The County Government of Laikipia is implementing a Public-Private Partnership in the construction of roads within the county.

The county is undertaking various road projects to increase connectivity and accessibility in the county. Good roads are a catalyst for development and improved agricultural production.

Last month, the County Government partnered with two institutions, namely Cottage Hospital and Braeburn School to improve Cottage Road through the public-private partnership model. According to Cottage Hospital CEO, Dr. Anup Das the two private institutions financed the road project to the tune of Ksh. 2 million.

On the other hand, the county department of infrastructure designed the road and provided technical guidance and support.

The leasing program is another area where the department has implemented projects using the PPP model. To increase rural road connectivity, the department has partnered with community members who provide contractors with gravel in their land, and in exchange, they benefit from the construction of water pans.

This has been mutually beneficial as the contractors extract gravel, and landowners are left with water storage pans, which improve agriculture production. To date, 40 landowners have benefited from water pans. This partnership with the community has enabled the department to save the cost of purchasing gravel and improve the quality of work while at the same time reducing the time within which a road is graveled. Chief Officer of Roads and Infrastructure Duncan Mwangi said.

The PPP model was also applied in collaboration with Ol Pajeta Conservancy in the grading and graveling of Thingithu and Segera Wards roads. A total of 13.5 Kms were graded, while another 11.6Kms were graveled.

In Thingithu ward, Sweet Waters - Ol Pajeta main gate road was repaired where 6.9 Kms was graded, and 6.4 Kms was graveled. In Segera, Ol Pajeta - Marura Bridge road, 6.6 Kms Graded and 5.2 Kms graveled.

The PPP saw Ol Pajeta supplying gravel and equipment. They had 2 graders, 1 drum roller, and 1 excavator. On our part as the county, we provided fuel for all the equipment, workforce and undertook the supervision of the work. CO Mwangi said.

The PPP model enabled Ol Pajeta to achieve its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to reach out to the community surrounding the conservancy through road improvement. The roads fall under the County Government's jurisdiction and thereby enabled the department to improve road connectivity in the county.