AN ARRAY OF HOPE or It’s just another prank!

AN ARRAY OF HOPE or It’s just another prank!

The recent developmental projects and proposals have been the country’s finest ever undertaken agendas. The projects are in line with the standards laid down in the vision 2030. The government has to a big extend achieved what everyone has been longing to see them undertaken. Kenyans have in the last few years been mesmerized by the capacity and potential that they themselves posses, these being how their hard earned levied money can eke great developments when properly managed.

Infrastructural developments however have been prioritized, making development to be one sided and not holistic per se; especially with the high inflation rate currently and the increase in tax rates to help finance these projects in place. The few sectors that have been given priority include the transport sector; especially the road, air and to some extend water transport, though indirectly. The rail transport has been left in wobbles greatly affecting heavy manufacturing industries and low income earning citizens who used to benefit a lot from it! This is a concern and a great impediment to the countries take off plans.

There can be more than what meets the eye on some these upcoming mega projects though. It should concern all on how the layouts of these projects have been established. The timing; the procurement of these tenders; the controversy surrounding the unexplained changes made to arrive at who will get certain tenders are some of the main eye brow raisers. It is the duty of every citizen to ensure that these projects are completed in time to enable the realization of their benefits at the right time. Some of these mega projects are:

Coal mining in Ukambani

The Ukambani region is one area endowed with great natural resources ranging from sand, rich agricultural soil and a good variety of stones and rocks and now coal in Kitui add more valuables to their resource basket. The region with its vast resources though has for a long time suffered from various predicaments, socio-economic being primary. This would not be the case with proper management. With proper management and utilization of their resources the region can move to great heights. The coal mining in Kitui will be a major breakthrough in the energy sector. Its mining will supplement other forms of energy and fuels in the country and internationally too. The wrangles facing the project, as to which company was awarded the tender and claims that the company awarded the tender to extract the mineral is a hoax meant to siphon tax payers money should be seriously looked into. Politics should be placed aside and clarity be sought to allow the project to initialize quickly.

The Geo Thermal Energy plant expansion

Olkaria IV is a mega project in line with Vision 2030 undertaken by various trading partners of Kenya. The Olkaria plant is set to be expanded for Ksh 82billion. The project is co-financed by KenGen with other development partners. They include the World Bank, Japan International Cooperation Agency, the French Development Agency, the European Investment Bank and the German Development Corporation.  The project is the largest investment in the energy sector so far! Its completion will add to the grid an additional 280 mega watts. This will go a long way in helping the country realize its vision 2030!

The famous LAPSET mega project

This project has been said to be the largest development project the continent has ever invested in being worth Ksh 1.5 trillion. The main components of the LAPSET project will include; road, railway and an oil pipeline networks from Juba to Lamu, and airports that will be located at Isiolo and Lokichogio. The railway network will run from Lamu via Isiolo where one line will branch to Ethiopia and another one to South Sudan.

The JKIA expansion

This has been the latest mega project that has out comely been marred with grave suspicions on how the matter has been handled by the key officials in charge of the project. The Kenya Airports Authority’s main contention was that the tender procedure as provided by the law had not been complied with. This has led to sackings of high level officials in the docket. The terminal is set to be expanded to a tune of Ksh 56 billion.

The expansion of the Jommo Kenyatta Terminal is an important strategic developmental programme that needs to be undertaken to keep the country abreast in the region in air transport and other various benefits that will come with it. 
The vital expansion of the terminal should not therefore be jeopardized at any cost. Our neighbor’s rapid infrastructural development in air transport is an indicator that we should seriously brace up our stands. Ethiopia expansions and Rwanda’s too are good examples to go by.  Each of these countries have invested good amount of their resources to remain relevant in the market.

It’s the fear of previous perilous moves of such grand projects that sends jitters to every patriotic citizen on what may come out of these investments. Everyone should therefore make a keen follow-up of these agendas and make sure the Kenyan and the East African dream as well is achieved.

Thumbs Ups

The key decision and policy makers have made outstanding progress towards enactment and formulation of workable development policies, agendas and projects. We therefore need to give them that extra eye and morale to keep everything rolling. Importantly this will also ensure that the concerned parties are kept on their toes and be able to get mindful of their responsibilities and of their actions too.