@Alicewangechi
Murang’a residents who ply the Murang’a-Kiria-ini route have a reason to smile after the government released Sh598 million to complete a section of the road that was in a poor state.
The reconstruction of the road from Murang’a town through Kiria-ini to Kairo shopping centre in Mathioya started in 2019.
One contractor was awarded the tender to work from Murang’a town to Mugeka shopping centre in Kiharu constituency. This sparked protests from residents after it took four years to complete the 13km stretch.
The other contractor started from Kairo shopping centre and was to complete the project at Mugeka shopping centre where the other contractor reached.
But the contractor left the site in 2021 before his part of the project extended to Kiria-ini town due to delays in disbursement of funds by the government.
This left the road in a sorry state as matatu operators sought alternative routes to Murang’a town, diverting traffic from the road.
In turn, this devastated Gaitheri, Kiambugi, Gakurwe and Kamacharia shopping centres that are along the 20km stretch that was left undone. Residents were forced to use boda bodas to move from one place to another.
But on Thursday, MPs Ndindi Nyoro (Kiharu) and Edwin Mugo (Mathioya), together with government officials, launched the reconstruction of the section.
The road that was previously under Kenya Rural Roads Authority (Kerra) has now been put under the management of Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA).
This, MP Nyoro said, is because it connects Murang’a and Nyeri counties to Nairobi as a huge number of motorists travelling to Othaya and Mukurwe-ini constituencies prefer the route because it is shorter and has fewer motorists compared to the Thika-Sagana-Nyeri highway.
“This means that this section of the road will have high construction standards as compared to the two other previously done sections. The road has been a nightmare but that has come to an end,” Nyoro said.
The road, Nyoro said, will also be expanded, adding that it has been a source of shame for him as it passes through his village.
“Immediately after elections, my colleague and I went to KeNHA to push for the construction of this road and we asked them to award the tender to a contractor with a good record,” he said.
Mugo said the construction of the road will rejuvenate the local economy as it will see residents engaged as casual workers.
Once the section is complete, Mugo urged local investors to take advantage of it and invest in hospitality businesses that are lacking along the road.
“It is appalling that such a major road with a very high number of vehicles using it everyday does not have a petrol station or a good hotel,” he said.
Engineer Francis Kimata from KeNHA said once the road is complete, a performance based contract will be floated for its maintenance.
He lauded residents for their patience, noting that the construction of the road will take approximately two years.
Mary Wanjiku, a resident of Mugeka area, said they have suffered for years due to lack of public transport vehicles along the road.
She said while Murang’a town is only a few minutes away, it would take them hours to get there.
It got worse when ferrying the sick to the hospital, she said, as they would have to get a taxi and the huge potholes on the road would worsen their health.
“But now, we will be able to sell our farm produce even along the road once it is completed,” she gleefully said.
