Calls intensify for urgent rehabilitation of Busia-Kisumu road

Residents and motorists are calling on the National Government to urgently rehabilitate and expand the Busia-Kisumu Road, citing its deteriorating condition, rising road accidents, and the growing cost of vehicle maintenance.

The approximately 120-kilometre highway, constructed in 1950 during the colonial era, is said to have never undergone major rehabilitation, despite serving as a critical transport corridor for passengers and traders.

The road links Busia County to Kisumu and provides an important connection to neighbouring East and Central African countries through the Busia border point.

Residents say several sections have become increasingly impassable, with potholes and narrow carriageways making journeys difficult and increasing the risk of accidents. Some of the crashes have resulted in fatalities, while survivors have sustained serious injuries and permanent disabilities.

They have particularly identified the stretch running from the junction near Busia town, through Korinda, to Bumala as requiring urgent attention.

The deteriorating road network has also increased the cost of doing business, with motorists reporting frequent vehicle breakdowns and expensive repairs occasioned by the poor state of the highway.

Transport operators say journeys between Busia and Kisumu take longer than necessary as drivers are forced to navigate damaged sections cautiously, slowing down the movement of passengers and commercial goods.

However, National Government Economic Planning Secretary Bonface Makokha says the government has set aside 11 billion shillings towards the rehabilitation and expansion of the road.

Although the allocation has raised hopes among residents, Makokha did not indicate when construction works are expected to commence.

In the meantime, residents are appealing for emergency maintenance to address the most severely damaged sections and improve road safety as they await the implementation of the larger project.

Residents maintain that undertaking immediate repairs would ease transportation challenges, reduce the risk of accidents and provide relief to motorists who have endured years of poor road conditions.