Residents want repair works hastened on crucial Murang'a road

Murang’a residents want the contractor working on the Murang’a-Kiriaini road that was damaged by heavy rains last year to expedite the repair works.

Sections of the road were eroded during the long rains and it was eventually closed off from public use by the Kenya National Highways Authority from Murang’a town to Mahuaini after its embankments collapsed at five points.

President William Ruto who visited the county in August announced the road would be repaired at a cost of Sh100 million.

The President was in the county to commission the Murang’a-Kiria-ini road that connects the county to Nyeri that had been under construction since 2019, among other projects.

But motorists have now complained that the alternative route provided by KeNHA requires them to travel long distances to access their homes from Murang’a town.

Kenha redirected traffic from Kiriaini to Mugeka-Kaweru Junction-Gakonya for those travelling towards Murang’a town, while those heading to Kiriaini were advised to use the longer Murang’a-Kangema-Kiriaini route or Murang’a-Gatiba Junction-Gitugi-Kiriaini route.

“My home is only three kilometres away from Murang’a town but I have to travel about 30 kilometres through the Gakonya Kaweru road to access it,” Chris Mwangi, a resident, told journalists.

Worse still, he noted, residents who have social events such as funerals are forced to incur heavy expenses to facilitate them as the majority of locals choose to use boda bodas to get to Murang’a town while others walk.

Many residents undertaking construction projects have been forced to stop them as transporting construction materials became too expensive.

His sentiments were echoed by Mike Murimi, a motorist travelling from Murang’a to Gaitheri in Kiharu constituency.

Murimi said though the diversion route was too long, it was important for the road to be repaired to safeguard lives.

“The road from Murang’a to Kiria-ini is very short but was unusable without the repairs they are carrying out now. But let them be faster because it’s costing us so much more to use the alternative route,” he said.

Murimi urged motorists to be cautious, saying the heavy rain pounding the area has made the roads slippery.

“My plea is for motorists to maintain the right speed and be very keen to avert any accidents,” he said as he sped off.

Sports Principal Secretary Elijah Mwangi, who hails from Gaturi area along the road, said the repairs have been progressing well but also urged the contractor to work at a faster pace.

“We need this road to be opened as soon as possible so the people living in between the closed off area can stop suffering,” he said.

The busy road connects Murang’a and Nyeri counties to Nairobi as a huge number of motorists traveling to Othaya and Mukurweini constituencies prefer the route because it is shorter and has fewer motorists compared to the Thika-Sagana-Nyeri highway.