Sh30 billion needed for damage repairs – CS

Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen announced yesterday that the government is facing a daunting task of restoring transport infrastructure ravaged by floods, with an estimated cost of up to Sh30 billion.

 Speaking in Lamu County during an inspection of the damaged road networks linking the port of Lamu, Murkomen, lamented the significant economic loss caused by the destruction of key road infrastructure

The disruption has also affected the movement of cargo from the Port of Lamu to neighboring countries.

He explained how the situation has made it difficult for evacuation of a consignment of 60,000 metric tons of fertilizer belonging to Ethiopia, which was brought in through the port of Lamu from Morocco.

 “For instance, we have been marketing the Port of Lamu for many years. And through the Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia-Transport (LAPSSET) Corridor Development Authority and Ethiopia agreed to use the port of Lamu to bring in their cargo which brings us business. They have brought in 60,000 metric tons of fertilizer which is still at the port. Immediately it arrived and wanted to celebrate the moment alongside ministers from Ethiopia, this flood situation struck us and that has brought a lot of problems,” explained Murkomen.

He however assured the Government of Ethiopia that “We are exploring alternative routes to address this problem even as we prepare to begin restoration of critical infrastructure across the country.”

Regarding the extent of the damage caused by floods, the CS said preliminary findings have established that the government will require between Sh 25 billion and Sh 30 billion to reinstate roads and bridges across the country.

“We have conducted an assessment of the damage caused by floods so far and we have established that the extent of the loss is devastating. We have lost a number of roads and bridges in the country.

Even though we will finally conduct the validation of the findings we have gathered that the amount of money required to restore the damaged resources is a lot,” Murkomen said that an assessment of the damage caused by floods is almost complete, adding plans are afoot to engage the Parliament to set aside the necessary resources.

The CS came face to face with the ugly situation between Gamba and Lango la Simba.