The dualing of the Kenol – Sagana- Marua highway shall be complete by June next year, the Cabinet Secretary for roads James Macharia has said.

The completion may come one year earlier as the road was anticipated to be done by October 2023.

Speaking during an inspection tour in Murang’a, Kirinyaga and Nyeri counties, Macharia said the contractor has agreed to hasten the work and finish the road in time.

“We shall be doing constant visits to monitor how the work is being done and ensure there are no hitches,” said Macharia.

The road whose cost is Sh14 billion is being done in two phases, the first one being 48 kilometers stretch from Sagana to Makutano and 36 kilometers from Makutano to Marua.

He said this will help to ease the traffic from Meru, Embu, Kirinyaga, Nyeri and Murang’a counties.

He pointed out that the road will also be a big economic boost to the entire country as it will connect the Northern and the Lapsset corridor projects.

“This is an economic project as it will open up many opportunities and spur development,” he added.

The CS also revealed of the plans to have the road from Kenol to Thika expanded to six lanes. He said the expansion will reduce snarl up as traffic joins the super highway.

“This section of the road currently has four lanes but we want it expanded to accommodate more vehicles,” he added.

He said two trauma hospitals one in Kenol and the other one in Makutano shall be established by the contractor as part of Corporate Social Responsibility.

“We shall also have compensation for the people whose land and business will be affected by the expansion of the road,” he added.

Macharia said upon completion, President Uhuru Kenyatta shall commission the road.

Additional reporting by Njange Maina