Residents of Gatanga in Murang’a county are elated after the construction of Sh3 billion highway that connects the area to Nyandarua county resumed.
The 68km highway was started in 2020 by the Jubilee government but stalled in 2022 due to delayed disbursement of funds.
The road starts at Gatakaini in Gatanga, traverses through Kinyona in Kigumo and ends at Njabiini in South Kinangop, Nyandarua county.
It is expected to be a bypass for commuters from the Central region to the Rift Valley as it then joins Gatura that connects to the Thika Superhigway near Thika town, shortening the journey by hundreds of kilometres.
“Once it’s completed, this road will boost business activities between Murang’a and Nyandarua counties and make it easier to transport farm produce,” Johnson Waititu, a resident, said.
The highway passes through the Aberdare Forest and follows an earthen route that was previously used by residents on foot and using boda bodas, its poor state putting their lives at risk.
It is expected to boost tourism in the Aberdare ranges while providing opportunities for investors to put up hotels.
“This road will attract a large number of motorists from the Nairobi-Nakuru highway and Thika-Mang’u –Fly-over road that is currently in poor state,” Waititu added, noting that the increased traffic will impact the local economy positively.
Nyandarua is known for its high agricultural production especially in tomatoes, carrots, milk and vegetables while Murang’a is famed for coffee and tea.
Many local traders source their wares from Nyandarua County, often being forced to hike the prices due to the high cost of transportation.
Joseph Mwangi, another resident, said farmers from Nyandarua will be highly reprieved by its completion as their post-harvest losses will be reduced.
"We keep seeing them in the news feeding cabbages to cows and their milk going to waste but with such access, others will be able to travel to the county to buy their produce,” Mwangi said.
Felix Karani, a worker, said they have faced numerous challenges including torrential rains as they construct the road but noted that it has given them a means of livelihood.
“We have to feed our families and feel the effects of the high cost of living less because we have a way of getting our daily bread. It has helped many youths stay away from self-destructing activities such as drugs and crime.”
Leonard Kipkoech, the foreman representing Henan Highway Engineering Group, a Chinese company undertaking the project, noted that it is currently being tarmacked, expressing confidence that it will soon be completed.
“This road will ease the lives of residents by making it easier to move and reduce the time taken by motorists travelling to and from Nakuru,” he said.
On Wednesday, the company donated foodstuffs worth Sh250,000 to about 200 residents of Gataka-ini area where it has established its site as part of its corporate social responsibility.
According to the company’s director Jiang Junfeng, HEGO has been partnering with the national government in infrastructural projects and has nine other on-going projects in the country.
Junfeng added that the company is currently mentoring about 99 construction workers who are trained on complex construction chores that they would otherwise not have acquired.
“We have about 550 construction workers countrywide. Many of them had never done engineering work before and we have taught them from zero. Some of them now work as foremen to teach the others.”
“We are also proud to recognise the eight best employees who have stood out as role models due to their selfless contribution to our work. They are an inspiration to us all and have received certificates,” he added.
