The Mountain Journal
editor@themountainjournal.co.ke
Poor road network between Nanyuki and Rumuruti has frustrated residents scouting for opportunities at the newly established county headquarters.
The residents from Nanyuki and parts of Meru are forced to use the longer routes to Rumuruti owing to the poor state of the existing 81 kilometres road.
The delay to tarmack the roads has led to leaders in Laikipia to avoid attending meetings convened by the public service vehicles owing to the poor state of the roads.
In 2022, the Ministry of Transport announced that Sh3.3 billion had been set aside for tarmacking of the road being part of Sh30 billion for 250 kilometres of road improvement in Laikipia county.
Hundreds of the residents in Nanyuki and some parts of Meru county have been unable to travel to Nyahururu and Rumuruti owing to the long distance.
Owing to the promise, tens of real estate companies bought tracts of land expecting to sell to the investors once the road is done.
Laikipia county government Finance and Planning Chief Officer Daniel Ngumi said construction of the road will open the larger parts of Laikipia, and create employment opportunities.
Ngumi said Nanyuki -Rumuruti road, if opened, will assist the investors to open businesses along the stretch thus help the government increase own source revenue.
He adds that areas in Umande and Segera wards will benefit with the road through establishment of business opportunities, thus increase employment.
“The area between Ngenia- Jua Kali road remains the best that will join the Nanyuki-Rumuruti road,” said Ngumi.
Peter Edongor from Segera ward says the Nanyuki- Rumuruti road was vital to the development of Laikipia.
Edongor says drivers use people’s land as an alternative to avoid the chaotic sections.
“ There are major markets along the route among them Pesi, Endana, Two- Two and Ngare Nyiro that are surrounded by ranches, horticulture and flower farms that employ hundreds of the youth,” said Endongor.
Two years ago, Laikipia county headquarters was relocated to Rumuruti from Nanyuki, a move that increased hopes on tarmacking of the 81 kilometres road.
According to Peter Ndirangu travelling along the rough terrain is expensive, thus blocking many from traveling.
Ndirangu says the road has blocked areas along the stretch from being exploited by investors.
Ndirangu says in the past 30 years the leaders have been giving promises.
“The late GG Kariuki had promised the residents that the road would be tarmacked. Now the present leaders say they are pleading with the government to embark on the multi billion shillings project,” said Ndirangu.
Ndirangu adds that the road will create employment and reduce insecurity in Laikipia North and Laikipia West,” said Ndirangu.
Laikipia Governor Joshua Irungu, and MP Laikipia East MP Mwangi Kiunjuri have been vocal on the construction of the road for the interest of the community.
Kiunjuri has appealed to President William Ruto to speed up construction of the road as it will open the closed parts of the county.
“ It’s is my request that the road be completed to ensure the pledges made are implemented,” said Kiunjuri
A business man at Pesi market Mwangi Macharia says there is expectation that the Kenya Kwanza government will start and accomplish the project to.save Nanyuki residents from travelling 131 kilometers via Nyeri and Nyahururu to the county headquarters .
“It’s an appeal that the road will be done as President Ruto promised during the 2022 Presidential campaigns,” said Mwangi.
Samuel Mwai, a PSV operator, said the improvement of the road will improve entrepreneurship in shops, hotels and flower farms.
Many of the PSVs’, he said, stopped operating along the road owing to the poor state.
“ The poor state of the road forces the few PSV to charge hefty fares and takes more than five hours to Nanyuki from Rumuruti,” said Mwai.
A leading entrepreneur, Mr Kihunyu Gitogo, said construction of the road will support hundreds of businesses along the corridor that has been neglected for decades.
“ The road will open interior parts of Laikipia East, Laikipia North and Laikipia West,” said Gitogo.
Martin Maina says the present status of the road is a ridicule as the proposal for tarmacking has been pending since 1981 when he was in primary school
Maina said the successive governments had failed to upgrade the roads, exposing the residents to suffering.
“ In the 1980, when I was using the road to access Naivasha the promises were made by the politicians and the same song is being played today,” said Maina, a former pupils at Naivasha Boys Boarding School.
