On November 2, Kenya President Uhuru Kenyatta and Vice-President William Ruto attended the commencement ceremony of the Kamatira-Cheptongei Road Project undertaken by STECOL, amid singing and dancing of local people.

President Uhuru inspected the site, and listened to reports on the construction schedule, personnel and equipment configuration, and progress of works. He expressed satisfaction with localization of the project implementation for promoting local employment. He also spoke highly of the project staff from both countries as highly responsible and courageous.

Waving the national flag, President Uhuru directed the construction equipment to ride  by in front of the rostrum, and in warm applause and cheers announced that the project was officially commenced. In the speech, both the President and the Vice President appealed to the local government and people to actively cooperate with Chinese companies and support the road construction, looking forward to the completion of construction tasks as soon as possible in order to promote local economic development.

The road works is the first rural road contract awarded to the company under its own brand in Kenya's "Five-Year-Ten-thousand-kilometer Highway Construction Plan". Since the start of the project in mid-July this year, the project team has completed the first milestone - 8.1 km of roadbed forming, and started to implement the pavement layer. The presence of both the President and Vice President in the ceremony is of great significance to the company, reflecting its sound status in the regional market.

President Uhuru unveiling the project board


President Uhuru delivering a speech (first to his left is Vice President William Ruto)

 

Local people singing and dancing