Cs Chirchir urges Private investors to boost infrastructure development.
KENYA : Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir urged private investors to actively participate in rapid industrialisation through infrastructure development, which will create job opportunities for youth.
Chirchir emphasized that robust infrastructure investment is essential not only for enhancing the engineering sector but also for stimulating job creation, which is crucial for addressing unemployment in the country.
He highlighted that industrialisation is a necessity, aligning with the government's Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) and Vision 2030.
The CS acknowledged the government's commitment to addressing pending bills in the infrastructure sector, currently totalling about Sh173 billion, which have disrupted project timelines.
He assured that the government is exploring options like securitisation of road maintenance levies to resolve these challenges and enable contractors to resume work.
Chirchir reiterated the vision of making Kenya a globally competitive nation by 2030, with a focus on becoming a newly industrialising, middle-income country that offers a high quality of life for all citizens in a clean and secure environment.
He stressed the importance of engaging with local engineering bodies to prioritise local talent and expertise in projects.
Governor Abdulswammad Nassir of Mombasa County expressed his commitment to collaborate on solutions that drive growth and create opportunities for local youth.
Chirchir concluded by urging collaboration among engineers, architects, and urban planners to tackle urgent infrastructural challenges and unlock the potential of Kenya's economy.
The CS, has recently been on the spotlight, following the proposed lease of the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport lease to Adani Airport Holdings.
Adani, Proposes to Lease the Kenyan International Airport, located in the capital, for a period of 30 years, in a Public Private Partnership, that has met widespread rejection from Kenyans.