Jubilee party officials said teh county is littered with stalled state projects that have the potential of transforming lives when completed.
They accused the government of channeling huge resources to matters that are unhelpful to the general public instead of implementing programmes that better Kenyans’ lives.
Image: Alice Waithera
The Jubilee party has put the Kenya Kwanza government to task over stalled multi-billion development projects in Murang’a County.
The party claimed that the stalled projects have subjected locals to untold suffering despite consuming huge resources.
Led by the county party chairperson Daniel Mubea, members also cited the 540-kilometre long Mau Mau roads that span from Kiambu, traverses through Murang’a and extends to Nyandarua and Nyeri counties.
“What we are seeing is the government getting caught up in a lot of misplaced priorities when Kenyans continue struggling to keep up with the hard economic times,” he said.
The Sh30 billion roads trace the paths used by Mau Mau fighters during their struggles in the Aberdare forest against colonialists. The aim is to honor them and open up areas near the forest.
Mubea emphasized that the Jubilee party will continue to speak out against injustices faced by Kenyans, serving as the voice of the common citizens.
Two weeks ago, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua mentioned that the government is seeking funds to complete this crucial project during a county visit.
However, Mubea noted that Murang’a County is filled with stalled government projects with the potential to transform lives once finished.
He accused the government of directing significant resources to unhelpful matters rather than implementing programs that would improve the lives of Kenyans.
In Mitubiri-Wempa area in Maragua constituency, the government has been constructing a Sh1.2 billion landfill that is expected to help manage waste from Murang’a County and other Nairobi metropolitan areas.
The landfill is being done by the Nairobi Metropolitan Services Improvement Project (NAMSIP), an initiative implemented in partnership with Nairobi, Kiambu, Machakos, Kajiado and Murang’a counties, started in 2017 and sits on 50 acres of land.
In Murang’a, the 153-kilometer road construction by the Kenya National Highways Authority initially sparked optimism for local economic improvement, particularly in business and tourism.
However, the project has come to a halt, turning into a source of distress for residents.
Contractors abandoned their sites, leaving the incomplete roads vulnerable to weather elements.
Last December, MPs Peter Kihungi and George Koimburi called on the national treasury to release funds for the road's completion, highlighting the Jubilee administration's earlier allocation of Sh4.5 billion just before the elections.
Njoroge Muthoni, the party’s secretary general, termed it unfortunate that the government keeps increasing taxes, and consequently making the lives of Kenyans even harder.
“Taxing people is not the solution. The right course of action is empowering people to improve their productivity and reducing inflation,” he said.
Should the government persist, Muthoni said the party will mobilize its supporters to protest against its policies.
Alice Wanjiku, a party member from Kandara constituency, said the high cost of living has pushed many to hopelessness that has in turn increased the prevalence of alcoholism in the Central region.
“Let the Kenya Kwanza government relax the taxes and help Kenyans thrive. Even the clergy has added its voice and asked them to stop burdening Kenyans,” she said.