The Kilifi County Government has pledged to transform the county’s rural trading centres into 24‑hour economies by constructing cabro-paved roads and installing street lighting.
Acting County Secretary Philip Charo said on Monday that the administration had already rolled out cabro road projects at several trading centres across the devolved unit, with the goal of opening up previously underdeveloped hinterlands.
Speaking during the launch of a 400‑metre cabro‑paved road at Kakoneni Trading Centre in Jilore Ward, Malindi Constituency, the County Secretary cited Marafa, Dabaso, and Watamu Trading Centres as some of the areas that had already benefitted from the initiative.
Charo, who is also the County Executive Committee Member (CECM) in charge of the Finance and Roads dockets, noted that the county government had resolved, as a matter of policy, that all trading centres where paved roads are built will also benefit from street lighting.
“The County Executive Committee has resolved that all trading centres where we shall build paved roads will also benefit from street lighting so as to transform them into 24‑hour economies,” Mr. Charo, who was flanked by Roads Chief Officer Agneta Karembo, said.
On the Kakoneni cabro road construction, Charo said the administration had already constructed 200 metres from the Sala Gate/Kakoneni junction to the trading centre in phase one, with phase two expected to extend the road from the trading centre to Kakoneni Girls Secondary School through the area assistant chief’s office.
“We believe that this road will transform this trading centre and its environs. Wherever we have constructed cabro roads, we have noticed that the price of land also appreciates. We believe that transportation will also be easy,” he said.
He urged locals to embrace the project and cooperate with the contractor to make the implementation smooth. He also urged them to take care of the road once it is completed by avoiding dropping litter and pouring water on the road.
Kakoneni residents led by Vincent Konde and Grace Bavu welcomed the project, saying it was a dream come true, and thanked Governor Gideon Mung’aro for championing change in rural settings, including their areas.
They asked the contractor to consider local youths when employing labourers for the construction work, citing their displeasure with the previous contractor, who they claimed hired labourers from a neighbouring ward.
By Emmanuel Masha
