Karuga Smart Town Works Kick Off
The County Government of Laikipia has moved with speed to utilize the just approved Infrastructure Bond by the national cabinet. Barely a week after the approval, the government has started its first project to be funded by the bond, Karuga Smart Town.
On April 5th 2022, the contractor to work on the project together with the County Secretary Karanja Njora signed the contract as a sign of commitment to accomplish this task. The handling over of the site to Warugita General Contractors also took place in the same week.
The project that is expected to take around eight months will include a 1.2km bitumen road around the town, walkways of about 4.4km, street lights, and well-done drainages to ensure no flooding of water hence ensuring longevity. One of the stretches will involve moving from Laikipia University to town for the sake of the safety of the students and other pedestrians and avoiding congestion on the highway.
The project will create direct employment for many Laikipians, including the contractor who hails from the Laikipia West sub-county. We have also instructed them to ensure the menial work is given to the local community unless there are specialists needed who may not come from the area.
said Mr. Njora.
Karuga Smart Town is one of the many series of projects that this alternative source of funding by the County Government of Laikipia has embraced. It is expected to follow in the footsteps of OlJabet Smart Town which is almost complete and has transformed the area for the better.
There are more than 16 projects to be funded through this new way of financing projects. The bond carries Ksh. 1.16 billion and will go to specific projects.
We are going to open accounts for specific projects so that when the contractor is done with projects, the money will be available. This money cannot be diverted whatsoever for proper accountability.
CECM Finance Murungi Ndai said.
My office will also make follow-ups ensuring financial statements will be developed for specific projects so that we can see how the projects have been moving quantitatively and qualitatively.
he added.
