'We have not abandoned it,' KURA speaks on incomplete Shabab road

The Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) has come out to refute claims of abandoning the construction of a road at Tanners in Shabab ward halfway, without having any plans of finishing it.

Speaking to Mtaa Wangu, Eng. John Orwa, the Deputy Director KURA South Rift region, says that the construction of the road is going according to plan.

"The total distance we will be working on is 1.5 kilometres. Currently, we are doing what is known as stage construction, meaning that we are improving the road in stages.”

Eng. Orwa continued to say that so far KURA had done routine patchwork for the whole road and asphalt concrete overlay on a section near the Coca Cola depot.

“We have started working on the first 325 meters, where we have completed the sub base (base of the road) which is the hard part as well as constructing the curbs," he says. 

Earlier last week, a section of the residents led by Hezron Okiki alleged that the funds that were supposed to cater for the project to its completion were used to mitigate floods therefore leaving the road halfway done. 

Countering these allegations, Eng. Orwa says the amount set out for this project was sh. 10 million, all of which can be accounted for.

He further denied claims that the money set apart for that road were diverted to other activities as earlier claimed by a section of the residents. 

"The road is being constructed using the Road Maintenance Levy Fund (RMLF). We had to stop the construction to wait for money to be released in the FY 2024/25 as government had to close its books for the FY 2023/24. However, completion of the 1.5km road is budgeted for and will be completed as planned," Eng. Orwa said confidently.