Traders and residents in Thika town have a reason to celebrate after the Kiambu county government started expanding a key road that has been in deplorable condition.
The recarpeting and expansion of Kenyatta Highway from Dr Wachira area to Destiny Church is underway and will be complete in less than a month, according to Governor James Nyoro.
The road connects Thika’s industrial section with the town's Central Business District.
Thousands of residents in Makongeni, Kiganjo, Kamenu, Landless, Muguga, and Gatuanyaga ply the same route.
Nyoro, who recently inspected the ongoing construction works, noted that the road will bring an end to the perennial traffic congestion along the stretch and end the pain motorists have endured for years.
“Once the road is complete, movement will be eased and this will in turn boost trade within Thika region, which is healthy for the growth of our economy,” he said.
Nyoro also noted that the county government will also install 200 street lights along the highway to boost security adding that footpaths and drainage will be constructed.
The county chief said that other roads undergoing recarpeting include Upper road that starts from the Kenya Revenue Authority offices to Thika stadium and the Kenyatta Highway that extends from Bonjour roundabout to Joytown Special School.
“The roads are being recarpeted by the county government through the Kenya Urban Support Programme (KUSP), and are expected to be complete by the end of this financial year,” he said.
Nyoro said the road expansion is among the projects under Thika municipality funded by the World Bank at a cost of Sh300 million.
Other projects include the construction of a drainage system in Landless and upgrading to bituminous standards of Kilimambogo-Makutano and Muguga township access road in Ngoliba ward.
“Roads within the Thika Central Business District have been in a sorry state and this has been a big blow to traders. We are however determined to ensure that they are tarmacked and street lights installed to give the town a new look for the sake of businesses,” Nyoro said.
The national government, through the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA), has also begun the recarpetting of other roads within the town and its environs.
They include Commercial, Cross, General Kago, Haile Sellasie, Harry Thuku, Kenyatta Highway, Kwame Nkurumah, Magoko, Bull and Mama Ngina.
Traders, led by the Thika District Business Association Chairman Alfred Wanyoike, welcomed the projects saying they provide a conducive environment to do business.
“This project will not only change the face of the town but will also provide a favourable environment of doing business and we expect trade to boom as Thika gears to become a 24-hour economy,” Wanyoike said.
