With Kenol town’s fast-growing population, mushrooming infrastructure, and investors jostling for a piece of the soon-to-be municipality, the town dwellers are calling on the county government to fast-track the purchase of common market land and a matatu terminus and construction of the same.
This, they say, will bring order and organisation and make the town more vibrant and attractive, which would have a positive impact in terms of revenue collection.
The town, which is the gateway to the Mt. Kenya region from Nairobi, has seen a steady rise in modern buildings and high-end businesses, as well as an enhanced value of real estate owing to the opening up of the Kenol-Marua dual carriage.
The town, however, suffers a myriad of challenges, ranging from a lack of a common matatu terminus to a market which leaves traders selling their merchandise along the road reserve.
The residents who spoke to KNA noted that these challenges should be addressed as a matter of urgency so that more investors could leverage on the town’s status as a municipality.
“The rate at which Kenol town is developing requires strategic thinking, well-informed decisions, and prompt and precise actions. We are happy when we see good things are happening, and it’s commendable that the county government has made the road passable, but we need more than just roads,” notes John Kamau, a member of the business community within Kenol.
They opine that hastening of the purchase of a market and stage land would solve the challenge of congestion as well as reduce snarl-ups that are often witnessed during weekends.
“Despite the heavy commuting to Nairobi and its environs, there has never been a permanent one-stop terminus in Nairobi, probably orchestrated majorly by the fact that there lacks an official matatu terminal at Kenol,” he adds.
The residents note that by securing a common terminus in Kenol, the commuters would be saved from exorbitant exploitation by matatus.
“For a Kenol commuter in Nairobi, there are only two scenarios where they either board a matatu to Thika and then connect to Kenol or board a direct matatu to Murang’a and contend with the high fare where they have to pay the equivalent of a Murang’a commuter,” Geoffrey Wacira says.
“Any direct transport from Nairobi to Kenol are only rush hour opportunists who charge commuters exorbitantly. The purchase of market and stage land should therefore be done immediately as a matter of urgency,” he adds.
A bus terminus and a market will make the town more organised and vibrant as businesses will thrive and more millionaires will be created as land prices skyrocket.
The residents said the county government needed to act with speed to find a solution that is sustainable, and soon Kenol should be leading in terms of revenue collection.
Cognizant of the fact that a drainage system construction is currently underway, the investors note that reliable, constant flow of fresh water and security within the towns and its environs should be a top priority.
“Investors will come in droves, creating employment and more opportunities for our people, which will translate into development, more revenue, and overall growth of the economy,” they noted.
By Florence Kinyua
