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{
"id": 1560494,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1560494/?format=api",
"text_counter": 445,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Emgwen, UDA",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Josses Lelmengit",
"speaker": null,
"content": "The Eldoret-Kapsabet-Chavakali Road (C39) is an important transport route facilitating regional connectivity by linking Uasin Gishu, Nandi and Vihiga counties, and further linking to Kakamega, Bungoma, Kisumu and Siaya counties. Notably, the road boosts agriculture and trade by connecting markets in Eldoret City, Mosoriot, Chepterit, Kapsabet, Chepsonoi, Cheptulu, Mudete, Chavakali and Shamakhoho, while also providing access to Chebut and Mudete tea factories and transportation of perishable farm produce like tea leaves, cereals, fruits, milk and vegetables to markets. It is also the link road to the Eldoret International Airport and key health facilities like the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH), the Kapsabet County Referral Hospital, the Jumuia Hospital, the Kaimosi Sub-county Hospital and the Sabatia Eye Hospital. Despite the crucial significance of the Eldoret-Kapsabet-Chavakali Road, it has never been expanded to meet the increasing traffic demand since it was tarmacked many years ago. Consequently, it faces significant congestion due to the expansion of Eldoret City, the towns along it and the convergence of traffic from other regions. Notably, traffic from the South Rift, Nyanza, Kisii and Western Kenya converges on this road via major roads such as the Chemelil- Nandi Hills-Namgoi Road, the Kisumu-Chavakali-Kapsabet Road and the Kakamega- Chavakali-Kapsabet Road, straining the already heavily trafficked and narrow road. This has negatively impacted socio-economic activities in the region by raising transport costs, delaying emergency responses, and hindering investors in public transport due to high wear and tear costs. Further, its deplorable state has caused fatal accidents, such as the tragic accidents at Chemarmar in June 2023 and at Mutwot on 10th January 2025, which claimed four lives and left others critically injured. It is against this backdrop that I request a Statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Transport and Infrastructure on the following: 1. A report on the maintenance record of the Eldoret-Kapsabet Road (C39) since 2013, including the details of the contractors, total expenditure incurred on maintenance, the scope of works done in each maintenance cycle, and inspection reports. 2. The short-term and long-term strategies for improving and expanding the Kapsabet-Chavakali Road, including fully overhauling and re-carpeting the surface instead of the current periodic patchwork maintenance, to get value for public funds invested in the repairs. 3. Plans by the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) to dual the Kapsabet-Eldoret section of the road and construct proper road shoulders to ease flow of traffic on this critical road. Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker."
}