Big towns in Murang'a to get a facelift, says Irungu

The Murang’a government has embarked on an ambitious project to give local towns a facelift by upgrading their infrastructure.

The programme, titled Smart Cities, will involve the tarmacking of roads and streets.

The towns that will benefit from the project include Kangari in Kigumo, Gatura in Gatanga, Kabati in Kandara, Kiria-ini in Mathioya, Murang’a and Maragua towns.

Governor Irungu Kang’ata said the project aims to capacitate the towns to handle the rising population.

“Once we upgrade the streets and roads to bitumen standards, it will ease transport operations and provide a better business environment for residents,” he said.

Towns such as Kenol in Maragua have been grappling with a skyrocketing population as people take advantage of its nearness to major towns, such as Thika and Nairobi city, stretching its facilities.

Under the project, towns will also be beautified and security lights installed to facilitate a 24-hour economy.

The project is being funded through revenue collected locally through digital systems that have doubled the county’s collection.

“Improving streets and infrastructure will motivate the business community and in turn boost the economy,” Kang’ata said.

The county government plans to upgrade infrastructure in one major town in each of the seven constituencies annually.

Kangari MCA Joseph Macharia praised the project, saying it will increase business activities in the towns.

He said poor infrastructure in towns that depend heavily on agriculture has compelled traders to sell their wares on the roadside, putting their lives at risk.

Traders shun interior parts of towns that have poor accessibility, which discourages residents from getting to them and in turn lowers sales, Macharia said.

“Kangari is heavily populated and has been facing the challenge of uncollected heaps of garbage that further make it harder for business people to thrive,” he said.