Residents of Wang’uru town in Kirinyaga County are upbeat about the new face of the urban centre as the construction of cabro parking and driveways take shape.
The residents and traders are now attesting to the aesthetic beauty awaiting the entire town once the project is completed before end of the year.
The ongoing cabro paving works which were launched in October last year by Kirinyaga County Governor Anne Waiguru will raise the standards of the once dusty town to the level of other towns: Kerugoya and Kutus which are already fitted with cabros.
The project will create about 600 car parking slots as well as improvement of the drainage system.
Wang’uru town is one of the major trading centres, especially in the rice business and it hosted Mashujaa Day national celebrations last year, an event that was attended by more than 3,000 guests.
Residents of Wang’uru have said the laying of cabros has totally changed the image of the town and would create a conducive business environment.
Grace Njeru, a shopkeeper in town said the cabros have totally transformed the town. “The cabros have totally changed the outlook of the area and created a conducive trading environment to the locals as well as outsiders,” Njeru said.
She added that the area would be rendered impassable during the rainy seasons while it would be extremely dusty during the dry seasons, a situation that kept away customers and negatively impacted on their businesses.
“Before these cabros were laid, we could even go for a week without making any sales since customers used to shun this part of the town, but now business is picking and we are registering better sales,” said the elated trader.
“Cabros have also enhanced the hygiene standards and beauty of one of the busiest and fastest-growing towns in Kirinyaga,” she added.
Paul Kamau, another trader in the town said that the residents were happy with the county government’s initiative in transforming the busy town.
“Upgrading of the town’s infrastructure will highly contribute to its economic growth and attract more investors. This project is the game-changer for Wang’uru town. The town will attract more and more people,” Kamau said.
Zachary Munene, one of the boda boda operators, observed that they previously used to operate under muddy conditions whenever it rained making it hard for customers to seek their services. He said that the boda boda fraternity is among the main beneficiaries of the cabros.
Other beneficiaries included rice farmers delivering rice to the mills, rice mills operators, rice traders, and general traders among others.
Kirinyaga Members of County Assembly (MCAs) have already adopted a motion to have the town become the second municipality after Kerugoya.
By Mutai Kipngetich
