Elgeyo Marakwet governor Wisley Rotich has called on residents living along the 73 km Biretwo Chesongoch road to cooperate with KENHA engineers to ensure the swift construction of the road.

Noting that the road which cuts across the Kerio Valley had been surveyed and beacons put in place, the governor called on all those who have encroached on the road to move as design works for the road gets underway.

Speaking in Iten after a meeting with KENHA personnel and the senator William Kisang, the governor said they will be conducting public participation with residents in Biretwo, Kobulwo, Arror and Chesongoch from tomorrow to ensure smooth implementation of the road.

The governor said the county has been waiting for the road since independence saying once open it will not only address the insecurity situation in the Kerio Valley but also lead to an economic transformation of the area.

He therefore appealed to residents to fully support its implementation and ignore minor disputes which might derail its const
ruction saying its benefit were immense to the county. Rotich said insecurity in the area had persisted because the area is not easily accessible to security personnel thus leaving criminals to kill, maim and steal with abandon.

The senator said the Kerio Valley is very productive in horticultural farming, and thus the construction of the road will be a major boost to the area. Kisang noted that the poverty index for the county stood at 42% against the national rate which was 36% saying the road will go a long way in reducing the poverty levels to below 30%.

The senator cited mango farmers, whom he said have continued to sink in poverty as their products have been going to waste due to the poor state of the road which makes it difficult for them to access markets and also for traders to access the area.

Governor Rotich said he had talked with Kenha to construct access roads to the various public institutions along the road.

Source: Kenya News Agency