Relief for residents as government tarmacs roads in Thika
Over 60,000 residents of Kiganjo in Thika, Kiambu County have something to smile about after the National Government moved to construct formerly dilapidated Corner 1 - Corner 4 road.
The Government through the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) is constructing the 3-kilometer stretch that has for decades hampered economic development of the area due to its terrible state.
According to Thika MP Patrick Wainaina, the stretch which connects with Broadway-Kiandutu-Athena-Muthaiga linking interior parts of Thika town with the busy Garissa highway will consume in excess of Sh17 million, money that had been set aside to repair various roads within the constituency.
The road is part of what occasioned the impeachment of former Kiambu governor Ferdinand Waititu as his government spent at least Sh300 million to poorly tarmac it alongside another one in Witeithie in Juja but they did not last for months before they started wearing out.
In absolute ignorance of normal road construction processes such as excavation works, subgrade preparation, spreading of coarse aggregate and compaction, base course preparation, prime coat, spreading of bituminous mix among others, the tarmac was laid on pure mud.
The situation resulted in poor movement challenges for residents most of whom are young entrepreneurs while others are workers in various industries within Thika.
After numerous poor movement outcry, Wainaina said Kura sacrificed the money allocated for repair of other roads within the vast constituency to tarmac the impenetrable stretch.
With the road construction among other infrastructural projects that the national government has initiated in the area, Wainaina said the developments will offer a conducive environment for businesses to thrive in the populous village.
While promising that the government will soon commence construction of a good drainage system, Wainaina particularly pointed out that local investors will be able to construct better and modern structures thereby helping them to earn more.
Condemning the poor construction works spearheaded by Waititu’s government, Wainaina called on the government to take stern action against public servants found culpable of embezzling public funds to enrich themselves.
“Public servants found to have misappropriated funds meant for development should be dealt with in a ruthless manner. Their actions impoverish the poor even more. It’s time the government moves to jail all corrupt public servants,” said Wainaina.
Kiganjo residents welcomed the tarmacking of the busy road which they said has caused them untold suffering.
Led by Lucy Njeri, a shoes seller in the area, the locals that dust, flooding and mud which have troubled them for years will be a thing of the past and that they will now be able to sell their wares with ease.
“We are happy. Indeed, I am very excited that light has come. We have suffered for years but our MP brought a solution. We will now be able to do business without minding dust and muddy movements during rains,” said Njeri.
