Residents of Nyandarua County will be engaged in the construction of Kapteni – Ndunyu Njeru road, even as the contractor is being sought to explain why he has abandoned the project.
County Commissioner Boaz Cherutich has assured that the contract issued for the construction of the 55km stretch, was labour-based and the locals will be employed to aid in its construction.
Speaking in Wanjohi Ward in Kipipiri Sub County, Cherutich regretted that vandalism of government infrastructure and syphoning of fuel from road construction machineries were a hindrance to development.
“We will only demand that persons seeking these jobs have a clean criminal records as we have witnessed several cases of loss of construction equipment and fuel while in their hands,” he noted, adding that both the unskilled and skilled, would get opportunities.
The county commissioner, who led CDICC members in a tour of the road’s camp site, was reacting to sentiments by the locals who had staged demonstrations demanding to be employed once the contractor is on site.
The road that was envisaged to connect Ol Kalau, Ndemi, Wanjohi and Ndunyu Njeru towns will however take a little bit longer to complete as the contractor, SBI international, failed to start the works as scheduled.
We have been forced to continue managing it even as we await the contractor said to be outside the country to come and explain the situation.
“We have already issued him with a notice of slow progress since only the camp site and the Environmental impact Assessment has been done for the roads construction which is already behind schedule,” noted Kenya Rural Roads Authority’s Regional Manager, Engineer Mburu Kariuki.
The engineer exuded confidence that three more roads would be complete by December this year, despite the heavy rains that have slowed down the tarmacking.
“The Ol Kalau township roads are almost done except for effluent discharge that needs to be managed with proper sewerage.
The upgrading to Bitumen standards of the 54Km stretch connecting the North Kinangop hospital with Kirima Ndinda is near completion, with the contractor anticipating the relocation of three electricity poles that pose a danger to motorists,” he added.
The CDICC sitting Thursday in Kipipiri town, also heard that delayed payment had hampered progress on Tumaini- Kanyariri road, though the local contractor has never left site.
By Anne Sabuni
