President Ruto launches Ksh 545 million Matayos-Shibale road project in Busia

President William Ruto has officially inaugurated the construction phase of a key infrastructure project in Busia County, intended to enhance rural connectivity and support local industrial logistics. The project, valued at Ksh 545 million, covers a 13-kilometre stretch that links several critical agricultural and industrial nodes within the Matayos and Butula constituencies.

The road network, officially designated as the Matayos-Namwitsula Bridge-Nasewa CAIP-Shibale road, begins at the Matayos market junction along the primary Busia-Kisumu (A12) highway. From this starting point, the route traverses through the Namwitsula Bridge and the Nasewa County Aggregated Industrial Park (CAIP), eventually terminating at the Shibale market.

This development is part of a broader national strategy to integrate rural production zones with processing hubs. The Nasewa CAIP is a central feature of this corridor, serving as a focal point for the National Government's industrialization agenda. By improving the road surface to bitumen standards, the project aims to reduce the transport costs for farmers and manufacturers operating within the industrial park.

In addition to industrial support, the 13-kilometre stretch provides essential access to other government-led initiatives in the region. These include the National Affordable Housing Programme and an Export Processing Zone (EPZ) located along the route. Prior to this intervention, much of the alignment consisted of earth and gravel surfaces, which frequently faced accessibility challenges during heavy rain seasons.

Construction works are being overseen by the Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA). The technical scope of the contract includes site clearance, earthworks, and the construction of major drainage structures. The inclusion of the Namwitsula Bridge is a significant component of the works, as it ensures reliable passage over local watercourses that have historically hindered consistent movement between Matayos and Shibale.

The project is expected to take approximately 30 months to complete, followed by a 12-month defects liability period. During the launch, it was noted that the improved road will serve a region dominated by livestock keeping and the farming of sorghum, millet, and maize.

Local leadership in Busia has previously emphasized that the lack of reliable road infrastructure has been a primary bottleneck for the Nasewa industrial site. With the mobilization of equipment now visible on-site, the project moves from the procurement phase into active execution.

The financing for the project reflects the ongoing cooperation between the national and county governments to fund the infrastructure required for the County Aggregation and Industrial Parks. Under this framework, both levels of government contribute to the realization of the parks and the supporting access roads required to make them viable for private investors.