- The situation has been exacerbated by the rains that have left huge gullies on the road thereby rendering it impassable
- Long-distance truck drivers also claimed their vehicles wear down frequently
Image: JOHN KAMAU
Image: JOHN KAMAU
Thika traders and residents have protested over the deplorable state of a key road in the town’s industrial area.
They claim the region’s economy has been grounded by the sorry state of the road, which has been worsened by the rains that have left huge gullies, rendering it impassable.
Led by Johnson Kihara, the proprietor of Fair Nut Company Limited, the traders said they have incurred huge losses since their firms are now inaccessible.
“This road has become a nightmare to us and it has dealt us a huge blow to us because pour prospective customers have decided to take business elsewhere. Trucks hauling products and produce to and from this area are dwindling because of wearing out frequently,” Kihara said.
The less than a kilometre stretch has been a nightmare to industries in the area, he said, as well as for truck drivers who transport cereals and fertiliser to and from the National Cereals and Produce Board depot that is situated along the road.
Kihara said their pleas to local leaders have fallen on deaf ears, and they have been forced to mobilise resources to rehabilitate the road.
“Several industries operating in this area have contributed building materials including quarry chippings to revamp the road temporarily.
“It is an injustice to the firms who are major taxpayers and who have contributed immensely to the growth of this region’s economy. All we want is tarmacking of the stretch for businesses to thrive here.”
They called on the government to have the road constructed.
“We are pleading with President William Ruto to intervene and authorise construction of this stretch which gives the many factories here a lifeline. These factories have created thousands of jobs for Kenyans and pay billions of money in taxes,” Kihara said.
He also called for construction of a proper drainage system to bring an end to perennial flooding.
Similar sentiments were echoed by James Gituku and Josiah Were, long-distance truck drivers, who claimed their vehicles wear down frequently.
Gituku said they are “ever at the mechanic”, incurring huge costs of repairing and maintaining their vehicles.
“The poor state of the stretch has been causing congestion in this area and we spend many hours which in turn affect our jobs. We pay Sh400 per day to the Kiambu County Government and our only concern is this road. We want it revamped,” Gituku said.
Julius Wamwea, a resident, said they rely on the industries for jobs, expressing concern that the firms have started reducing their workforce owing to reduced business.
“We are losing jobs in these factories and the management is claiming their clients have vanished due to poor infrastructure in the area including this road. This road has not only affected the businesses and the motorists but also hundreds of households which depend on the firms as the source of their income,” Wamwea said.