Mathioya repairs feeder roads as El Niño looms

Mathioya is set to undergo a Sh140 million feeder roads’ rehabilitation programme.

The initiative will be facilitated by the local kitty of the National Government Constituency Development Fund.

Some 15 feeder roads with a length of 60km will be murramed in the grassroots ahead of the El Nino rains, which are expected to fall next month.

The programme will be implemented in partnership with Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA), which will oversee the construction of the roads.

Mathioya MP Edwin Mugo said 20km will be rehabilitated in Kamacharia ward, another 20km in Kiru, and the rest in Gitugi ward.

The programme, he said, is aimed at ensuring residents can continue with their daily activities despite the heavy rains.

Mathioya residents depend on farming, which is hampered by bad roads.

The problem deteriorates during the rains as the farmers cannot transport their produce, including tea, milk, coffee and horticultural crops, to the market.

“We don’t want a situation where trucks ferrying milk or tea are unable to get to some parts of the constituency due to rains,” the MP said.

Once the roads are upgraded, the MP said boda bodas, which are heavily relied on by locals for transport from their homes to shopping centres, will be able to continue working.

Each of the road will have a different contractor, who will be required to engage locals for manual labour, which includes bush clearing and levelling.

“This money will have a major impact on the local economy as it will provide jobs and feed families," he said.

"If about Sh70 million is left in the villages, they will be transformed economically.”

The contractors are expected to complete the projects in the next two weeks before the onset of the rains, and were asked to ensure high construction standards are observed so the roads withstand the heavy rains.

Mugo, however, urged residents to be on the lookout for signs of earth movements, especially in areas prone to landslides.

He also called on residents to take advantage of El Nino rains to increase production in their farms.

The MP implemented the first phase of the feeder roads upgrade programme in June, where 12 feeder roads were murammed at a cost of Sh62 million.

The programme is aimed at opening up interior parts of the constituency and connecting them for easier movement.