Two members of the parliament from the Mount Kenya region have raised concerns over the delay in the completion of the Mau Mau link road.
Kangema MP Peter Kihungi and his Juja counterpart George Koimburi on Sunday called upon the national treasury to release funds for the completion of the road that links Murang’a, Kiambu, Nyeri, and Nyandarua counties.
They argued that in the recently assented supplementary budget, the amount allocated for the road was slashed from Sh. 280 million to Sh. 175 million.
The legislator highlighted before the end of the Jubilee administration, the road was allocated Sh. 4.5 billion and substantial work has been done on the ground.
Kihungi underscored the importance of completing the road owing to its economic advantage to the local community and the country at large.
He said the government should strive to ensure construction of Mau Mau road resumes as soon as possible since locals are complaining about the stalling of the project.
Construction of Mau Mau road commenced during the last term of the Jubilee government but the works stalled last year due to a shortage of funds.
The 165-kilometer road excluding tributaries was to cost about sh. 4.5 billion and was meant to commemorate Mau Mau war veterans as well as open up the Aberdares forest ecosystem.
The legislators spoke at Ndueni Full gospel church in Kangema during the thanksgiving ceremony of Kenyenyaini ward MCA, Grace Nduta.
“Residents of this region are very much concerned about the progress of the road. The construction during the previous government was going well and we are worried since in the current budget Sh. 280 million was allocated but when it came to the supplementary budget the money was cut by more than half to Sh. 175 million which can hardly do much on the project,” said Kihungi.
He continued “We need a budget allocation that can make an impact and the least can be Sh.1.5 million to ensure most of the works of the road are completed. The Kenya Kwanza administration should give this road priority since the locals want improved infrastructure to augment their economic activities.”
On his part, Koimburi said they promised their people that the Mau Mau road will be completed once the Kenya Kwanza government assumes office.
He called upon the transport Cabinet Secretary to pump funds for the completion of all the roads within Mount Kenya region which are under construction.
“As leaders from this region, we want to ask the transport CS Kipchumba Murkomen to ensure money is allocated for roads being done in Mount Kenya. Some of the key roads are Mau Mau and the dueling Kenol-Marua road. Residents are eagerly waiting for completion of these roads which are purported to spur the local economy.” he added.
Koimburi said within six months, the works should resume failure to which they will mobilize residents to hold peaceful demonstrations in demand for funds for the road.
Kinyona MCA Liz Mbugua reflected how the uncompleted road has subjected locals to suffering especially during this period when the region is experiencing heavy rains.
She observed contractors left heaps of soil along the road thus paralyzing transport during the rainy season.
“It is frustrating to see paralyzed transport after contractors excavated some parts of the roads and left heaps of soil. Taking the sick to the hospital is currently a nightmare. We ask the government to pay the contractors so that they can resume construction works,” she added.
By Bernard Munyao
