Irate residents of Murinduko in Mwea East have blocked the busy Kutus - Kimbimbi - Togonye - P. I road to protest the reallocation of funds meant for the tarmacking of the road in the appropriation budget.
The residents blocked the road for the better part of Wednesday morning demanding that the National Assembly budget committee return the money meant for its completion and get the contractor back to work.
Last month during the heavy rains, one person died after he was swept away by the floods while crossing the Kii bridge along the road, which necessitated the residents to volunteer and repair the bridge.
Led by Mercy Njeri, the residents said that the road was started during the reign of former President Uhuru Kenyatta when the contractor started the works and tarmacked around 10 kilometres but later the project stalled.
She said that despite the road playing a pivotal role of ensuring they reach the hospitals and opening up the agriculture lands for the market, the area continues to be neglected leaving them with losses.
Njeri said that they have been using donkey carts and wheelbarrows to transport the sick and expectant women to Kimbimbi hospital adding that some women have ended up giving birth on the road.
Local leaders led by former Mwea MP Alfred Nderitu and former deputy governor Peter Ndambiri joined the residents in demanding the return of the budgetary allocation for the completion of the tarmacking of the road.
Nderitu said that it has been a trend for funds meant for various development projects in Mwea to be reallocated to other projects in other areas saying that they will not allow any further marginalisation.
On his part, Ndambiri said that they will fully back the area MP Mary Maingi in fighting for the interests of the expansive constituency to ensure funds meant for development in the area are used for the intended purpose.
