County Government of Laikipia

Laikipia County has received six more tipper trucks to accelerate road connectivity in rural areas through improvement to all weather conditions.

This is through the innovative financing of development through the leasing program.

The additional trucks make a completed four brigades and an additional partial brigade. The five brigades are to cover the 15 wards in the county. Each will serve three wards to save on time for movement. It will also enable the Department of Infrastructure to make more roads.

The county targets to construct and improve road connectivity of 60km in every ward within this financial year. The new trucks will help the government realize this target.

The department has been working with nine tipper trucks and has managed to grade 1,223 km, gravel 420km, and open up new roads totaling 71km. The trucks are coming to add to the number and make road construction in the county easier. Four more trucks will be coming soon.

The arrangement is to have two brigades in Laikipia East, two in Laikipia West, and one in Laikipia North.

A complete brigade contains an excavator, a grader, a roller, and four trucks. Laikipia North's brigade contains a dozer and a grader. On the other hand, two rollers will be shared among the other four brigades serving Laikipia East and West.

The rains especially in Laikipia West have hindered good progress of road construction. However, we are determined to make it to 60km in each ward by the end of this financial year, especially with the coming of these additional trucks. said Eng. Duncan Mwangi, the Chief Officer Infrastructure, Roads and Urban Development.

The main focus is opening up the rural areas as that is where most of the people stay. There are many economic activities going on in these places that heavily depend on good roads.

Road connectivity ensures farm produce reaches the market on time while fresh, which adds more value. Milk farmers will also transport the vital commodity to the market/dairy on time.

Good roads reduce the charges for transportation. Therefore, the money saved will be used for other economical activities, thus improving the quality of life of the locals.

The government has embarked on quality of roads within the county, meaning that any road will have a drainage system, culverts, and the main ones must have paved ways to reduce congestion between the motorists and those using other means.

In the past years, there are roads that have been going maintenance after every rainy season. The reason is that floods have been spreading across these roads, thereby affecting their durability. What has been lacking and leading to all these problems is only a drainage system.

Through the leasing program, the government is ensuring any road constructed is according to the best standards. The roads are all-weather, allowing smooth transportation whether during the rainy or dry seasons.

According to Umande Ward MCA Hon. Daniel Mugweru, upgrading Laikipia roads to be accessible in all weathers will help minimize insecurity and bandits's attacks that have been witnessed in parts of the county.

You cannot compare the roads done through leasing with those done by contractors. Therefore, it is a challenge for the contractors to up their job. said Laikipia County Assembly Speakers Hon. Patrick Waigwa during the flagging off ceremony of the new trucks on Friday.