By Issa Hussein - Reporter
Kenya, 2 July 2026 - The Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) will invest KSh400 million in upgrading roads in the newly established Bura and Balambala municipalities, a move Garissa Governor Nathif Jama has described as a major boost to urban development in the county.
Under the programme, KSh 200 million will be allocated to each municipality to improve road infrastructure, enhance transport, facilitate trade, and increase access to essential services.
Governor Nathif said the funding follows the recent elevation of Bura and Balambala to municipality status, enabling the two towns to qualify for urban development financing that was previously inaccessible.
"The upgrading of these towns into municipalities has opened up new opportunities for investment and development that will improve the lives of our people," the governor said.
He credited local leaders for lobbying for the road projects and other national government investments in Garissa County, saying the collaboration between the national and county governments was delivering tangible benefits to residents.
Among the projects highlighted by the governor are the planned Level Four Mother and Child Hospital in Galmagala, Fafi Sub-County; the ongoing expansion of Balambala Hospital; the recently commissioned Garissa Regional Blood Transfusion Centre; and a maintenance agreement for radiotherapy equipment at the Garissa Regional Cancer Centre.
Governor Nathif also revealed that Garissa, Dadaab-Hagardera, and Masalani municipalities are set to receive KSh626 million under the second phase of the Kenya Urban Support Programme (KUSP). The funds will finance roads, water and sanitation systems, street lighting, markets, and other urban infrastructure projects.
He said attaining municipality status also makes the towns eligible for support under the Kenya Devolution Support Programme (KDSP), which promotes better urban governance, planning, financial management, revenue generation, and service delivery.
In addition, the municipalities are expected to access financing and technical assistance from development partners, including the African Development Bank, German Development Bank (KfW), and the State Department for Housing and Urban Development.
The governor noted that Garissa's municipalities are already receiving technical and institutional support from partners such as VNG International, the International Rescue Committee (IRC), the Refugee Consortium of Kenya (RCK), Inkomoko, and the Regional Desertification Foundation (RDF)/Dorsch Impact to strengthen governance, urban planning, and economic development.
According to Governor Nathif, the county's strategy of creating municipalities is aimed at attracting investment to improve infrastructure, expand business opportunities, and stimulate economic growth.
He added that the county government will continue investing in road infrastructure across Garissa using its own resources to improve connectivity, reduce transport costs, enhance access to health and education services, support agriculture and livestock production, and open up rural areas for investment.
The governor said the combined investments are expected to accelerate the transformation of Garissa's urban centres into modern, well-planned municipalities while improving the quality of life for residents across the county.
Balambala Member of Parliament Abdi Omar Shurie also appreciated the project to upgrade the Balambala town roads to bitumen standards.
He said a team consisting of KURA officials and the Balambala CDF chairperson conducted a preliminary mapping exercise for the implementation of the road project.
Once implemented, Balambala Constituency and Bura Town will have the first historic tarmac roads.
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