Transport

Tarmacking Turkana to cost Sh65bn in next five years

rig

Oil rig at Ngamia 3 field in Turkana County. FILE PHOTO | NMG

In the next five years, oil-rich Turkana roads should be well paved under a tarmacking plan that will cost up to Sh65 billion.

It will also be part of the wider interlinking with the neighbouring regions covering a huge swathe of the North western region of the pastoralist lands that have either remained impassable or lack good roads because of vastness and limited economic activity.

The elaborate works will improve communication and ignite economic activity, Deputy President William Ruto told a Pastoralists Parliamentary Group meeting in Mombasa on Sunday.

Among the roads in the pipeline is the Eldoret-Kitale-Lokichar highway. Turkana has attracted a lot of investment and political attenntion since the discovery of oil in the region where exploration has been gaining momentum.

The discovery of oil means road networks will be required for transportation of cargo and movement of people.

Once the roads are done, the Deputy President said, Turkana will be linked to other regions, stimulating economic activity.

Early next year, Mr Ruto said, the government will begin the construction of the 600km Lamu-Isiolo highway to open up the Northern region.

READ: 530-km Lapsset highway construction starts mid next year

He said the government has committed funds towards the construction of the Northern corridor highway, which will link Lamu port and the Northern region. He, however, did not put a cost to it, only saying it would connect Lamu, Isiolo, Moyale and Turkana.

Mr Ruto noted that the government would also construct an oil pipeline from Lamu to Turkana.

“We wanted the highway and the oil pipeline to start from Lamu, Isiolo, to Turkana so that we could open up the Northern region to improve transport and economic activities,” he added.