A week after H.E Governor Wisley Rotich met with the National Youth Service (NYS) Director General to forge a partnership in maintenance of County roads, a technical team from NYS arrived in the County to assess the scope of works.
Deputy Governor Professor Grace Cheserek hosted the team today at the County headquarters, which was led by Deputy Director Peter Juma, Roads Engineer Ben Wekesa and Transport Inspector Leah Kibe.
Juma said they were in the County to explore areas of collaboration, which will pave way for the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to guide the mode of engagement between NYS and the County.
“We have come following the visit by your Governor. His passion to see roads in the County improved made our Director General to dispatch us to come and assess the roads that you want NYS to assist improve,” he said.
The official added that they would also explore other areas for support including water drilling and construction of water pans.
Prof Cheserek appreciated the prompt action by the NYS Director General Matilda Sakwa saying it was testament that Counties could indeed leverage on other Government agencies for collaboration in development.
“As a County, we have limited equipment as well as a rough terrain that makes it challenging to do roads and other infrastructure. We want to take advantage of your long expertise and machinery to carry out these challenging works,” she said.
The Deputy Governor clarified that the involvement of NYS does not mean local contractors would be denied County jobs saying NYS was only coming in to complement them in doing the most challenging works especially along the escarpments.
She added that the Executive would work closely with Members of County Assembly (MCAs) to identify the road networks that needed the intervention of NYS.
Prof Cheserek requested NYS to consider employing locals while carrying out the works once they enter into a formal engagement with the County. She also requested NYS to help train the County’s Enforcement officers.
Juma assured her that NYS would do the works but will source materials locally as well as employ casuals from the local communities. He added that NYS would be willing to offer training to the Enforcement officers either in the institution’s Gilgil or Naivasha training schools.
They later visited Nyawa-Rimoi road where a section of about 2.5km is yet to be done. The team also checked on Salaba-Kabulwo road which now passable but needs maintenance.
Mr Juma asked the locals to be ready to be engaged for manual jobs once they begin operations.
Local residents welcomed the move thanking the Governor for keeping his word.
Isaac Kurui, a resident from Nyawa said once the road is connected, it will safe them travel distance and money while traveling to and from Rimoi.
“I thank Governor Wisley Rotich for coming to our rescue. We are waiting for the new road,”he said.
Among the roads to be considered in the partnership include Mogil-Chesewew, Koitilial-Matira, Kapchelal-Chegilet, and Salaba-Kabulwo. Others are Kibendo-Kamaingon, Nyawa-Rimoi , Tambach-Songeto. Chemwabul-Surmo, Kaptere-Changach-Sumbeiywo-Menone and Turesia-Kalwal are some of other roads.
Also present during the meeting was County Secretary Paul Chemmuttut, County Director Roads Elias Cheboi and other staff from the Department of Roads.
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