Nairobi: The Ol'Kalou bulk cabro production plant, which is set to reduce paving costs for public utilities in the county by over 60%, has been officially opened in Kaimbaga ward, Nyandarua County, by Governor Moses Kiarie Badilisha. Governor Badilisha's urban centers' modernization program targets over ten major towns and public utility facilities.
According to Kenya News Agency, the Governor noted that the inauguration of this plant creates tens of jobs for the youth while making it possible for accelerated modernization of the county. He emphasized that his main aim is to make every settlement-formal and informal-habitable and conducive for both micro and macro businesses.
The first beneficiary of the urbanization project is Huruma Estate in Kaimbaga ward. Started as a colonial informal settlement, Huruma estate in Ol'Kalou town is undergoing significant upgrading and modernization with new tarmacked roads, improvement of sanitation through a modern sewerage system, a retail market housing over 200 traders, and solar-powered street lighting at a cost of over Sh200 million.
Under the Kenya Informal Settlement Programme, the project, worth over Sh400 million, is expected to equally cover Gichagi village-another former colonial settlement in Njabini-Kiburu ward-at the same cost with almost similar scope of work benefitting over 700 households.
'We are upgrading three major roads with tarmac and cabro. We shall have pedestrian walkways in all the major town roads. We are urging the contractor to finish the work now that we have paid him. We are also constructing a modern market in Huruma estate so that the traders can have a decent place to sell their merchandise. Thereafter, when all our major towns are upgraded, we will also have the cabro plant serve private citizens, at better prices, as one of our revenue streams,' said Badilisha.