With two weeks remaining before the national Madaraka Day celebrations in Bungoma County on June 1, preparations in various areas are gaining momentum as beautification in Bungoma town continues.
Upon arrival in Bungoma town via Mumias – Bungoma highway, one is welcomed by signs of men at work. In the Musikoma area, where the dual carriageway begins, the new look of this town starts to emerge as the road’s construction works are in high gear.
The relocation of traders from the roadside to the official Chepkube market has created space for the expansion of the dual carriageway from Musikoma to Kanduyi.
The beautiful scenery on this road is evident due to the flowers being planted, some of which have already started growing—billboards welcoming President Dr. William Ruto to Bungoma County for the historical celebrations have already been erected and buildings in the town are being painted.
“In the past Bungoma town was not worth it, but today things are changing; roads are being constructed and flowers planted. Today this town is really attractive,” said Paul Wafula, a resident of Bungoma town. Wafula’s sentiments were echoed by Alex Owiti who took part in the beautification.
In many parts of the town, engineers from the Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) are working tirelessly to ensure a stable power supply. The newly installed streetlights, even though it’s daytime, portray how the town shines when darkness falls.
These celebrations will be held at the Masinde Muliro Stadium in Kanduyi, where preparations are in full swing in every corner of this area. The effort to clean and beautify the Masinde Muliro Stadium in Kanduyi, both outside and inside indicates a high level of diligence.
Several kilometers of roads too have been repaired and reconstructed during these preparations. Among the roads repaired is one connecting the Bungoma police station to Bungoma airstrip, via West Media Limited offices and the State Lounge under construction in Bungoma town, Senator Wetangula Road, among others within the Kanduyi constituency.
“The new road network will ease transport services in and around this town because we have had a lot of challenges in this sector especially when there are emergencies. In addition, this infrastructure will attract visitors and investors into our town,” commended Alex Owiti.
However, as these operations continue to gain momentum, maintaining the infrastructure may be a challenge as some boda boda operators are frequently seen crossing the road improperly.
The face-lifting of Bungoma town is geared towards the national celebrations of Madaraka day in this county, though the new look of the town will remain years after the celebrations set for the 1st of June. However, the intense diligence and striking speed at which all these infrastructures are being constructed and repaired shows how other development projects can be done in a short period when there is will from the parties involved.
Will Bungoma County be ready for the National Madaraka Day celebrations come June 1?
Will these developments in Bungoma town continue or will they stop once the Madaraka Day celebrations are over?
