Gatundu North residents decry poor state of roads

Residents of Mwimuto, Gatei, Gathaiti, Githobokoni and Kandakomu in Gatundu North are up in arms over the pathetic state of roads which are currently impenetrable, a situation that has paralyzed economic activities in the villages.

The spur roads in the area are part of the 540-kilometre Mau Mau Road project, which was to cover four Mount Kenya counties at a cost of Ksh30 billion.

The development has, however, remained a pipe dream for locals who are now immobilized.

Launched in 2020, the construction of the roads was hoped to enhance economic activities in the area that boasts a rich plantation of pineapples, avocados, tea and coffee for export, and dairy farming among other crops.

Three years down the line, the roads only underwent excavation before the construction materials left the site leaving them impassable.

As a result of the ongoing heavy rains, residents said the roads have become completely impassable making them stop all activities including transporting farm produce to various markets some of which end up rotting at the farms.

Today, several school buses got stuck along the muddy road forcing school-going children therein to trek kilometres away to attend school.

“I woke up at 4 am to ferry children to school but I’m still stuck in the mud, five hours later. It is wrong that leaders here don’t care, or the government has been ignorant. We will plant bananas on this road if nothing is done,” Anthony Kariuki, a school bus driver told journalists.

According to residents, the situation has been the same since heavy rains started pouring with no word from government officials including elected leaders from the constituency.

Bearing the brunt are women some of whom have been forced to give birth along the pathetic roads as motorbikes and vehicles are unable to move to Igegania Level Four Hospital – the only major facility in the constituency.

Today, a woman is reported to have given birth along the roads before she got to the hospital, a situation that has irked locals who are now demanding action.

“It is sad that a fellow woman today had to give birth along this pathetic road. The government has completely failed to hear our cries. Our concern is, what debt haven’t we paid to warrant this torture,” Catherine Wanjiru, a local farmer decried.

“Our children had to stay at home today after the bus that ferries them to school got stuck in the mud. It is still unstuck and we don’t know whether a repeat of this will happen tomorrow,” Jane Wanjiku, another woman, regretted.

Residents decried that the government which seeks to build Ksh13 billion dam in the area has completely failed to give them its ears on matters of infrastructural development.

Unlike the neighbouring constituencies, the locals lamented the abandonment of Gatundu North on development matters and called on the government to promptly intervene.