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Expansion of roads is invaluable. Not only do they open up the hinterland, but they also make travelling easier and faster.

Former President Mwai Kibaki’s legacy is on the number of roads he built or initiated. The projects take time and consume a lot of money. 

In this year’s budget, the government plans to spend Sh200 billion in the construction and rehabilitation of roads.

Because of this massive investment, the returns should be there for all to see.

It is, therefore, heartening that contractors are pulling all the stops to complete the projects. 

Whereas the construction comes with its challenges, many are preventable. 

Getting into or out of the City of Nairobi can be the most frustrating endeavour.

Besides one spending hours on end sitting in traffic; the risk of getting sick is high.

The gases and dust are dangerous to motorists who are forced to queue for many hours. 

This is why contractors need to adhere to timelines for completion. Delaying projects that have been funded by the public is an offence.

It is outrageous that on some occasions getting home from the city centre takes hours for a drive of just a few kilometres. 

Roads Cabinet Secretary James Macharia in the company of Kenya National Highways Authority Director General Peter Mundinia and chairman Wangai Ndirangu on Saturday while on a tour of the Nairobi Expressway project said the works would be complete by February. 

If they keep their word, it would be great relief for the millions using Mombasa Road as it would end the debilitating traffic on that route. However, the pledge should not be mere words.

In the past such events were used as publicity stunts with little or no effect on the pronouncements. 

The Nairobi Limuru Highway is a case in point. Many warnings have been issued by top government officials about the pace of work with little effect.

The road is the main artery into the city from western Kenya and feeds to the neighbouring countries. 

It is, therefore, unconscionable that road users have largely been left to their own devices. Indeed, some contractors have been known to acquire more projects than their capacity, leading to delays.

Even as we call on the concerned agencies to speed up completion of projects on which President Uhuru Kenyatta has staked his legacy, we emphasise that care must be taken to ensure that the quality of work is not compromised.