Pathetic road that has remained campaign tool for decades
Eric Wainaina @EWainaina
King’uka-Kite road in Laikipia West in Laikipia County has been in sorry state for decades.
It has been neglected by successive governments despite the region having been represented in Parliament by powerful politicians like former Cabinet minister, the late GG Kariuki.
Current Laikipia Governor Ndiritu Muriithi also represented the area between 2007 and 2012 as MP when he also served as an assistant minister for Industrialisation in the Grand Coalition government.
Since 1980s, the critical stretch has remained in pathetic condition despite the area being largely agricultural.
Other than in mid 90s when a family hired earthmovers to improve about one and a half kilometres during a kin’s funeral, the road is a case study of neglect and bad leadership.
It was also shoddily rehabilitated during former Governor Joshua Irungu’s administration.
The rehabilitated section is currently submerged following the ongoing heavy rains, which has rendered it impassable after springs developed along it.
“This road has become a tool for campaigns whereby aspirants promise to rehabilitate it.
Governor Muriithi and Marmanet Ward Rep Simon Kanyutu promised the same, but after being elected, they never kept their promises,” Muturi Njenga, a resident of King’uka village said.
Only last week, locals mobilised resources to rehabilitate about 100 meters from the main road near King’uka Primary School after it was cut off by floods and emerging water springs that have turned most of it into a seasonal stream.
“We are being forced to carry patients on our backs to the main road. It is sad that we are being forced to contribute resources and spend our time rehabilitating a public road yet we have people in government,” Muturi added.
Road, he said, is vital to residents of Kite, Gatero and Muhotetu who use it to get to the nearest bus terminus (King’uka) to access hospitals, markets and other services only available at Ol-jabet shopping center or Nyahururu and Rumuruti towns.
At P.I Farm that has a dam, which overflows along the road throughout, residents, including children are forced to use a makeshift bridge made of rafters despite the ferocious waters since successive governments have failed to fix the much needed culverts.
John Wanyiri, a resident of Kite village, said only little work is needed to improve the road since most part of it is marram, which require just grading.
“Shortest road from Kite, Upper Muhotetu and the neighbouring areas is this road because the alternative, which is the Kite-Limunga road, is more than seven kilometres.
Why not rehabilitate it yet it doesn’t require much time and resources?” asked Wanyiri .
King’uka-Kite road betrays the mighty names and ability associated with its previous leadership as well as the expectations of the constituents. It kills the enthusiasm of the habitats who depend on maize, dairy and horticultural farming in both small and large scales.
Nyahururu-Rumuruti road often used by tourist’s en route to Samburu is marred by potholes and only last week unhappy residents planted bananas on it to protest after heavy rains cut off a section of it near Limunga rendering it impassable.
Junction-Mutanga-Karandi and Rumururi-Kinamba roads were only constructed recently ending the prolonged agony residents have endured while accessing the main road.
