Newly inaugurated Murang’a Municipal Board has commenced works to give roads and streets within Murang’a town a facelift.
Several roads linking various estates in the town are being upgraded to ease movement of people and vehicles.
Speaking during inspection tour of the ongoing works Monday, the chairman of the board Arch. Benson Githinji said the roads and streets will be upgraded by using cabros to enable people connect easily to the town centre and neighbouring streets.
Githinji said construction of two roads from town to mortuary and town to Marikiti was already complete, adding that they are also rehabilitating the dilapidated Mukuyu matatu stage.
He observed that the project is being implemented under Kenya Urban Support Programme which is funded by the World Bank to a tune of Sh60 million.
Accompanied by other Board members, Githinji said their plan is to improve the town to city status in few years to come.
“We have embarked on giving this town a facelift and we are in consultations with local residents to identify areas of priority,” added the chairman.
Further, he said the Board was working on a strategic policy paper to be commissioned in a month’s time, which will guide in improving services and physical infrastructure of the town.
The chairman stated that they are also working to improve garbage collection which has remained a big challenge to the county government.
Murang’a town residents have been accusing the county government of delay in collection of garbage thus putting their lives at the risk of contracting diseases.
“The board is working on better plans to collect solid waste and improve cleanliness of our town. My appeal to residents is that they should dispose garbage at designated collection points,” asserted Githinji.
On his part, the County Executive for health Dr. Bernard Muia said beautification of the town will involve planting of trees after consultations, but not fruit trees as proposed earlier.
Dr. Muia said fruit trees would not be appropriate considering emissions from vehicles, which may make the fruits unsafe for human consumption.
The eight-member municipal Board was inaugurated early this year and is expected to improve road infrastructure in Murang’a town and neighbouring towns.
By Bernard Munyao
