Murang'a towns shine under Sh175m Smart Cities programme

Murang’a residents have lauded the county government for implementing the Smart Cities programme that gives a facelift to major towns.

The residents said the programme has reprieved them from walking and doing business on muddy streets while enhancing the appearance of towns.

The programme started in February this year has seen major roads in Maragua, Kangari, Murang’a, Kangema, Gatura and Kiriaini towns tarmacked.

The towns will also have streetlights that that will boost security while lengthening business hours.

Mwangi Wacogi from Maragua town said the programme will inject life into the sleepy town and spur business activities.

The town, he said, has experienced numerous cases of insecurity due to lack of lighting and that the streetlights will improve security.

He said this prompted many motorists to shun the town for years, further worsening the business environment.

“Maragua town has been lagging behind due to poor infrastructure and insecurity and we are confident that its economic status will improve now that the roads will be in good order and streetlights installed,” he said.

On her part, Nancy Mwangi urged the county to start with installation of streetlights saying their businesses have suffered due insecurity.

Mwangi said traders are forced to close their businesses before dark as they fear being robbed, noting that streetlights will have a significant impact on the growth of businesses as they will allow them to work for longer.

“We are hardworking people and once the county government provides a conducive environment, we know our businesses will grow,” she said.

Governor Irungu Kang’ata who launched the programme in Maragua town said the tarmacked roads will ensure all parts of the town are accessible.

This will better expose businesses that had to previously contend with poor and dusty roads, and make them more accessible to customers and allow persons with disability to engage in business activities with ease.

“Many traders were being compelled to trade their wares along tarmacked roads to access customers who avoided interior parts of towns because of bad roads”.

The programme, Kang’ata added, will boost business activities in major towns by easing the way traders conduct their businesses.

Traders will experience far less challenges and those away from the main roads will now get an increased traffic of customers.

He also said that most towns have poor drainage systems and that they will also be rehabilitated as part of the programme.

The county government allocated Sh175 million for the Smart Cities programme in the 2023-2024 financial year budget.

Towns such as Murang’a, Maragua, Kiriaini and Kangema have already had several streets upgraded.

The governor added that installation of streetlights will go a long in making the county a 24-hour economy which will further boost the local economy.

Kang’ata pointed out that streetlights will also be installed in all trading centres to facilitate business activities at night.