A technical team from NYS arrived in Elgeyo Marakwet County on Wednesday, September 7, 2022, to assess the scope of road works.
This comes barely a week after Elgeyo Marakwet Governor Wisely Rotich met with the National Youth Service (NYS) Director General to forge a partnership in the maintenance of County roads.
And on Wednesday, Deputy Governor Professor Grace Cheserek hosted the team at the County headquarters. The team was led by NYS Deputy Director Peter Juma, Roads Engineer Ben Wekesa and Transport Inspector Leah Kibe.
During the meeting, 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 dispatch us to come and assess the roads that you want NYS to assist improve,” he said.
Further, the NYS official said they would also explore other areas for support including water drilling and the construction of water pans.
Leverage on government agencies
On her part, Prof Cheserek appreciated the prompt action by the NYS Director General Matilda Sakwa saying it was a testament that Counties could indeed leverage 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. She said NYS was only coming in to complement them in doing the most challenging work, 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.
Employ locals
Also, the deputy county boss 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.
But responding to the request, Juma assured the DG that NYS would do the work 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.
Later, the team visited Nyawa-Rimoi road where a section of about 2.5km is yet to be done. It also checked on the Salaba-Kabulwo road which is now passable but needs maintenance.
The NYS Deputy Director asked the locals to be ready to be engaged in manual jobs once they begin operations. Residents welcomed the move thanking the Governor for keeping his word.
Ease transport
Isaac Kurui, a resident from Nyawa said once the road is connected, it will save them travel distance and money while travelling 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 were County Secretary Paul Chemmuttut, County Director Roads Elias Cheboi and other staff from the Department of Roads.
