Murang’a: The construction works of the stalled 27 km-long road stretch from Gatakaini in Gatanga, Murang’a County, to Njabiini in Nyandarua County have resumed, sparking excitement and hope amongst the residents and road users. Upon completion, the road, a game changer that cuts through the Aberdares forest, is expected to connect Murang’a and Nyandarua counties.
According to Kenya News Agency, the construction of the road that has passed through the forest offering a scenic view of the majestic peaks, torrential waterfalls, and steep forested ravines was started in 2020 but would later stall for months. The residents and road users observed that upon completion, the road will significantly reduce the distance and long hours spent on the road to get to Nyandarua County, the rich agricultural hub and country’s food basket. The road will also contribute to the economic growth between the two neighbouring counties.
‘Murang’a and Nyandarua counties are known for their rich production of agricultural products, and that is why we have been yearning for the completion of this project so that farmers in the two counties can get the opportunity to sell their products easily, thus improving the economy,’ observes Johnson Waititwa, a road user from Nyandarua County. ‘Nyandarua is one of the country’s food baskets; we feed the people of Nairobi and other counties with cabbages, carrots, potatoes, and milk, but currently we spend a lot of resources on fuel and vehicle maintenance owing to the long hours spent on the road because we have to use the flyover-engineer route, which is a long route,’ he adds.
He said that upon completion, they will be able to reap more as the distance covered will be shorter, translating into more returns on investment. The road construction has also provided employment to hundreds of young people. On his part, Felix Karani notes that he has been working since the construction works began, even though there have been challenges, especially high rainfall experienced in the area. He, however, said the project has transformed lives.
‘Before coming here, I was unable to provide for my family, but since I started working, I have been able to provide, and my family has been cushioned from the high cost of living, and I have also purchased a dairy cow to further supplement my income,’ he says. He applauded the company in charge of the construction for considering the youth and offering them a chance to earn daily bread. ‘Most of those working here are youthful and energetic and have been kept engaged while also getting their daily livelihood, and this translates into a clean society because if they were idle and jobless, their time would be spent engaging in antisocial behaviors like crime and substance abuse,’ he adds.
The project’s foreman, Leonard Kipkoech, observes that the project has transformed lives and will ease the transportation of food from Nyandarua and also traffic from Naivasha to Thika, as motorists will no longer be required to use the long Nairobi route. ‘I have been working with this company since 2020, and our family and friends depend on this road for survival, and as you can see, we are currently doing tarmacking as we just completed the earthworks, so we expect that within a few months the construction will be complete,’ he said.