Residents of Lari constituency, who are mostly farmers, have a reason to smile after the government promised to tarmac the 44km Uplands-Githunguri-Ruiru road.
Motorists and cyclists have held protests for years, demanding the government tarmac the road, which will cut across Kiambu county to join the Nairobi-Nakuru highway and Thika Road and Ruiru.
Roads PS Mungai Mbugua yesterday said the road will start from Nyambari heading towards Ruiru.
“Be patient as the government starts working on the road from next week on Monday, as we want to ensure that it achieves the required standard,” he said.
Lari MP Mburu Kahangara said President William Ruto’s government wants to fulfil the pledges it had for the public so it can ease movement, support trade, farming and coexistence.
The MP said the road will help tea farmers whose vehicles keep breaking down due to the road's pathetic condition.
The legislator also noted that trade will thrive as most residents are farmers who deal with vegetables and dairy farming.
“We have tea factories which use the road every day. Others are farmers who cultivate kales, spinach, cabbages and sell milk every day,” Kahangara said.
“When it rains, no vehicle can move in to collect these horticulture products, including milk. Nearly everything stands over the muddy conditions and stagnant waters.”
Matatu operators, led by Ginyali Sacco chairman Nyoike Mungai, said they have been using a lot of their profits to repair their vehicles instead of developing themselves.
“We keep visiting mechanics since our vehicles keep breaking down. They look so old but some are new,” he said.
Kahangara said once the road is complete, security will also improve since Lari police divisional headquarters and police station are situated on that road.
“The police also are affected by the movement along the road. There was a time the police vehicle got stuck in the mud and it was at night. It had to be pulled by the suspects who had been arrested,” he said.
“I’m not so sure if the suspects ran away after assisting the police or what happened.”
