The Principal Secretary for Roads Eng. Joseph Mbugua met officials from the Japanese Eight-Japan Engineering Consultants who are in the country to conduct a study on the measure to promote overseas development of new infrastructure in the African region.

The Director General of EJEC Motoki Ogawa said their Agency has been engaged by the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), to conduct the survey whose aim, is in the long-term technology transfer, Human Resource Development, Public- Private Partnerships and private sector investment to enable deeper integration of Japanese companies into the African markets.

Eng. Mbugua hailed the Japanese support in identifying the skill gaps and conducting the capacity building of personnel on road and bridge construction and in funding major infrastructure projects in the country.

He said that with the support of the Japan International Corporation Agency (JICA), the State Department of Roads had been able to develop and review road and bridge infrastructure manuals, undertake performance based routine maintenance of major road infrastructure projects, and develop a Bridge Management Information System (BMIS).

The PS said the country needed skills development in the management and mitigation of disasters, especially in the areas of managing flooding, which ravaged the country during the heavy rains that affected the road infrastructure and highways.

He said the country had realized a skills gap in hydrologists' training, as this would enable them to identify areas for incorporating changes in structure development to mitigate flooding.

Eng. Mbugua said experts could be identified for specialized training in disaster management in Japan.

Present were the Director Generals of Kenya National Highway Authority and Kenya Rural Roads Authority.