Residents of Makengi village in Tharaka Nithi County have a reason to smile after a new contractor turned up to complete the tarmacking of the only road that connects them to the county headquarters that had stalled for more than two years.
The residents expressed joy after a new contractor mobilized his construction equipment at Igakiramba primary school within their area, giving hope that the long stalled Keeria-Magutuni-Kathwana road will soon be completed.
A site visit by the Tharaka Nithi Senator Professor Kithure Kindiki revealed that the long stalled national government project that was commissioned in 2018 could be complete before the expected 2022 general elections.
Speaking to the residents Professor Kindiki revealed that area leaders have spent sleepless nights fighting for the road construction to be awarded to a new contractor, since it became evident that NMG Ltd did not have the capacity to tarmac the road.
“The road was assigned to NMG Ltd in 2018 but even after realizing that he did not have the capacity to construct the road, he engaged the Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KERRA) in unending court battles but we thank God now the road has been assigned to a competent one,” the senator pointed out.
He said he was confident that the 1.3 billion road project that covers 30 km will be complete by the year 2022.
“The Turkish MARFA Construction company has undertaken to complete the road in thirty months and with the speed they have moved to construct a site and mobilize their own construction equipment, I have confidence that they are equal to the task,” said the professor.
He called on the contractor to engage local labour and incorporate all members of the community, including women to ensure that they earn some income to cushion them against Covid-19 pandemic.
Professor Kindiki further called on the residents to desist from vandalizing the contractor’s equipment, since the project belongs to them and will open opportunities once it links them to the outside world through the county headquarters.
By David Mutwiri
