The Coast Regional Development Implementation and Coordination Committee (RDICC) has expressed its satisfaction with the progress of the Sh2.3 billion Baricho Bridge Project in Kilifi County.
Led by Coast Regional Commissioner John Elungata, the committee noted that the project was within schedule as it was already about 86 percent complete with more than one year to go before the contractual completion period elapses.
Already, the government has paid the contractor Sh1.5 billion out of the approved certificates amounting to about Sh1.8 billion. Mr. Elungata said adding that he would push for the payment of the remaining about Sh300 million or so, so the work can be completed in time.
“The committee will push for the payment of the remaining Sh300 billion to enable the contractor complete the project by December this year, four months before the end of the completion period in April 2022,” Mr. Elungata said.
The Regional Commissioner who was addressing a public meeting at Kasikini village in Magarini Sub County after inspecting the project said the bridge would ease transportation of goods and people between Magarini and Malindi Sub Counties and open up the areas for more development.
The 241 metre-long long bridge being constructed by MS China Railway No. 10 Engineering Group will connect Langobaya and Baricho villages in Malindi and Magarini Sub Counties across the Galana (Athi River).
Investors have already started showing interest in investing in the remote areas of Magarini Sub County that have been landlocked for years due to poor transport infrastructure, Mr. Elungata said.
The government has already completed the Sh4.5 billion Malindi-Sala Gate road in Malindi Sub County while the Sh1.5 billion Marikebuni-Marafa-Baricho Road in Magarini Sub County is more than 70 percent complete, he noted.
“Our aim is to ensure that government projects are completed in time and we are happy that the bridge and the road projects will be completed within schedule,” Mr. Elungata said.
Also present during the tour were members of the Kilifi County Development Implementation and Coordination Committee (CDICC) led by County Commissioner Kutswa Olaka.
Mafara Member of County Assembly, Renson Kambi, praised the government for the multi-billion infrastructure projects in Magarini constituency, noting that area residents would get great relief transport-wise.
He echoed Mr. Elungata’s sentiments that the area would be opened up for development and welcomed investors into the area.