The Kirinyaga government roads improvement programme has opened up remote areas for sustained social and economic development.
Governor Anne Waiguru said the county has covered about 1,500 kilometres of roads in the last three years.
Of these, 250 kilometres were upgraded to murram and another 1,250km were also graded. The county chief spoke on Saturday during a visit to Mwea.
Waiguru said in the last financial year, the county improved 21 roads covering 1,100 kilometres, with 201 kilometres upgraded to murram and 900 kilometres others graded.
“Good roads have improved household incomes as families can easily transport farm produce, such as bananas, vegetables, and rice to the market,” she said.
The governor said accessibility within local towns has also been improved, making it easy for people to look for jobs in nearby towns and easily commute from their homes.
“We cannot talk about road improvement without considering the construction of bridges,” the governor said.
She said bridges are a critical component in the road improvement programme as they connect areas previously separated by rivers and enhance the exchange of goods and services.
Waiguru said residents from Murinduko ward in Mwea East could easily link with their counterparts in the larger Mwea area including Wanguru town after the completion of the Mahiga-ini-Mwatha-ini bridge.
She said the bridge has brought relief to residents who have had to endure using a makeshift bridge to cross the Nyamindi River, posing a risk to their lives and making transport an expensive affair.
“The bridge is expected to spur economic growth by easing transportation of agricultural produce to the market and increasing employment opportunities in the transport sector such as boda boda,” she said.
The governor said before the completion of the bridge, area residents from both sides would travel 14 kilometres to Wang’uru Market.
This is because their nearest market, Ngurubani, which is only seven kilometres away, remained cut off by the Nyamindi River. The distance and the transport cost have now been cut by half.
The link has also come in handy for hundreds of boda boda operators who earn a living through the transport business.
They no longer have to fear slipping into the river as was the case when using the makeshift bridge.
Waiguru said access to public institutions such as schools and health facilities has also greatly improved.
(Edited by Bilha Makokha)
