Chinese firm to construct road linking Kenya to South Sudan

KITALE, Kenya - Kenya's North Rift region is set for transformation as a Chinese firms has won the tender to construct the first tarmac road that extends to South Sudan.

China National Aero-Technology International Engineering Corporation has been contracted to undertake the construction of the 60 kilometers road in a region referred to as Kenya's bread-basket.

Ferdinand Wanyonyi, a lawmaker in Kwanza Constituency in Trans Nzoia County, on Tuesday hailed the $20 million project funded by the national government, saying it will transform the lives of local farmers.

The Kitale-Namanjalala-'Keriget-Chepchoina road, that is intended to link Kenya with South Sudan, is expected to be launched by Deputy President William Ruto next month.

Kwanza constituency has no tarmacked road and residents use donkeys to transport produce from farms to markets.

Wanyonyi said the project is a major boast to farming activities arguing that dilapidated road infrastructure has in the past denied residents the opportunity to market their produce and earn better returns.

"This is a milestone project. People have suffered because the bad state of the roads especially during rainy season. It is a blessing to my electorates and we expect farming activities to flourish," he said.

"It has been difficult to transport farm produce to the market and this road is going to boost our farming business," said a maize farmer Peter Kidelo.

"Transporting produce from the area has been a nightmare and we are happy that the government considered upgrading the road," he added.