Decades ago Makeji area in Murang’a was associated with violent crime, where sneaking to the Delmonte pineapple plantation was the order of the day among the youth.
The trend made the section dangerous, as criminal gangs attacked motorists plying the Nyeri-Nairobi highway.
Today, the construction of affordable houses is the darling of the youth as they are employed to provide services after years of being idle.
Samson Muthee a resident of Nguthuru says it is a gesture that the youth have managed to get a difference from the payment they receive.
“Let’s wait and see if the tenants will provide the locals with the opportunities once the 220 houses will be occupied,’ said Muthee.
in the past, the youth perfected the theft of pineapples, and members of the Kandara Residents Association were fighting to repossess their ancestral land, which they believed was unjustifiably taken away by the white settlers.
Three years ago, Delmonte Kenya Limited (DKL) ceded 1,400 acres of land to the county government of Murang’a for use in development a move that brought the Kenneth Matiba Hospital at cost of Sh200million.
Last year, the county government allocated Sh200 million for the construction of Kenneth Matiba Hospital, as the Ministry of Lands and Housing embarked on putting up 220 units of affordable houses.
Makeji is also set to benefit from the construction of an EPZ on the 500 acres from the 1,400 acres donated to the county. The construction is estimated to cost sh500 million.
With this new development, the violence that featured Makeji and the surrounding areas is no more as Kenneth Matiba Level Five Hospital is operational with more than 300 patients per day.
While opening the multi-million shillings health facility, governor Irungu Kang’ata said the area is poised to develop into a major town as a result of the traffic from the new developments.
“Makeji area had a bad history which will now change to a great city, where the government will create employment for the youth as well as converting level five hospital to a national referral facility,” said the governor.
The facility, named after the late Kenneth Matiba, will decongest Murang’a and Maragua hospitals. In the absence of the facility, the locals sought treatment at Thika Level Five Hospital.
“There will be a casualty wing to administer treatment to victims of road accidents. The programmes around Delmonte land are designed to create employment for the hundreds of the youth,” said Kang’ata.
Maurice Muguru a resident in the area said the section between Makeji and Mukeu areas sent shivers down his spine recounting how a gang of robbers attacked him in 1991 when his vehicle broke down.
Muguru now in his 70s, recounts the tragedy that befell him after a gang struck.
“I am happy that the transformation coming to the locality will erase the bad memories that haunted my family following the injuries inflicted by the gang,” said Muguru.
