Tea farmers in Nyanduma Ward in Lari constituency have asked residents who live near the roads not to complain when their fences are destroyed by contractors who are upgrading their roads.
They say some locals had encroached on roads and now the contractors will be forced to bring live fences down so as to expand the roads to the required standard.
One of the directors of Kagwe Tea Factory Stephen Munyua says they have been having a lot of challenges when transporting tea leaves to the factory from different farms in the area.
Munyua applauded area MP Mburu Kahangara and Kenya Rural Roads Authority for upgrading some roads using hard stones since they will connect Kagwe town, the tea factory and the Mau Mau road which is also still under construction.
The directors say they have been counting losses when their vehicles keep breaking down and developing mechanical problems owing to too much shaking from potholes and poor road network.
"Leave alone mechanical problems, we face real challenges when it rains since our vehicles keep getting stuck in the mud and the leaves arrive too late given the fact that they are perishable goods” Munyua said.
Joseph Muchiri, a resident, said some residents have even built kiosks on road reserves.
"We want to accept losses whenever we have developments such as these. Some fences and kiosks will be brought down,” he said.
They spoke at Ha Kairu area in Kagwe town when Kahangara commissioned Ha Kairu to Gachoire road.
The legislator noted that the area has been left behind for many years owing to the poor road network.
He said farmers have been frustrated by roads since they end up not selling their produce to the market.
"Leave alone tea which is a cash crop and needs to be protected, we have farmers who produce avocados, cabbages, kales, spinach, bananas and different fruits, but taking these items to the market is a challenge” he noted.
"When they call traders from big markets, they buy them cheaply claiming they will spend a lot of money while transporting these produces," the legislator added.
The MP said since the Finance Bill, 2023 was passed and the budget read, money that will be channeled to upgrade and tarmac roads will leave an impact thus easing transport.