News

Department of Works Accumulates Backlog of Work

The Department of Works has, over the years, accumulated a backlog of K30 billion worth of maintenance work.

The department needs a massive K700 million annually to upgrade and maintain all national roads and another K700 million for rural roads.

 

Secretary for the Department of Works, David Were, says the Department has embarked on a new plan to address these challenges.

 

The department of Works is tasked to deliver a K1.7 billion budget this year.

 

Set to deliver the biggest budget in the history of the department, it is also faced with the challenge of maintaining and upgrading all existing roads and bridges in the country.

 

In the first week of the New Year, staff at the headquarters, regional managers and department heads took part in a dedication service.

 

Speaking at the dedication service, Secretary Were said the Department is focused on delivering 3 to 300 kilometres of road in 2014.

 

He said funding in this budget cannot address the huge maintenance backload accumulated over the years.

 

In order to address part of this problem, the department is decentralising some of the responsibilities to the provincial level.

 

He said the rural roads do not have a sustainable maintenance program and everything is done on an ad-hoc basis.

 

In order to deliver the key target areas for 2014, the Department of Works will prioritize roads identified as economic backbones of the country.

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