Written by Hillary Fletcher
Nakuru County is stepping up its Imarisha Barabara Programme as the administration rolls out more heavy machinery to sub-counties, a move expected to speed up long-delayed road upgrades and strengthen connectivity across all wards.
The County is hiring and distributing high-capacity equipment to fast-track grading, gravelling, drainage, and dozing works, forming a central pillar of its broader plan to enhance the local road network. The machinery deployed, including graders, drum rollers, dozers, excavators, and tippers, aims to accelerate and improve the efficiency of ongoing improvement projects.
Officials say the approach improves economic efficiency by ensuring optimal use of government equipment at both the National and County levels. Under the 2025/2026 financial plan, the County intends to upgrade more than 800 kilometres of roads.
Leaders emphasise that this investment is designed to increase accessibility, strengthen trade links, and enhance mobility for residents living in rural and urban zones. Eng. Michael Kamau, the CECM for Infrastructure, and Chief Officer Kennedy Mungai are overseeing the deployment exercise, which is leading field evaluations and determining priority works across all wards.
County Executive Committee Member for Infrastructure, Eng. Michael Kamau emphasised the importance of coordinated efforts between levels of government.
“The collaboration with the National Government allows us to optimise available equipment and redirect more resources to actual road works. This strengthens the overall efficiency and impact of the Imarisha Barabara Programme,” he noted.
On the other hand, the Chief Officer affirmed that the deployment marks a significant step toward bridging road access gaps across the county.
“Our focus is to ensure every ward benefits from quality road infrastructure. By mobilising more machinery earlier in the year, we can open up more roads, reduce maintenance backlogs, and improve access to essential services,” he said.
Therefore, it is worth noting that the cooperation between the National Government and the County Government of Nakuru continues to reinforce service delivery through the Imarisha Barabara Programme. By pooling resources, the County is channelling savings into widening the scope and speed of road works.
Deployment activities have already begun, with teams carrying out site inspections, road profiling, and preliminary works in multiple sub-counties. The County expects the additional machinery to substantially raise the speed, quality, and cost-effectiveness of road upgrades throughout the year.