The Government is committed to completing some stalled development projects in Murang’a County before the end of this year, Lands, Public Works and Urban Development Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome has said.
Speaking, Tuesday, when she toured various projects in Murang’a County, Wahome stated that funds have been factored to ensure the projects which started during the previous regime, were completed for the benefits of Kenyans as a whole.
At Mitubiri area, where the government is implementing a Sh1.2 billion sanitary landfill project, the CS said the project, meant for management of solid waste, would be completed in two months’ time.
She said completion of the project has been delayed due to financial constraints, noting that the only part remaining was to procure the needed equipment, so as to operationalize the landfill facility.
“The landfill project started back in 2016 and it was financed by the World Bank. The government has procured some equipment, as funds have been set in the next Financial Year budget, to ensure the facility starts handling solid waste from the County,” she noted.
Construction works of the sanitary landfill, Wahome averred, were completed some years back and what was remaining, was to install and avail the equipment for operation of the facility.
“Once completed, the sanitary landfill, will be handed over to Murang’a County government. The facility will have life span of about 20 years and will help in managing solid waste, thus improving sanitation in Murang’a,” she explained.
Wahome further assured local residents, that assessment of health hazards was done to ensure the safety of the people living around the sanitary landfill.
Meanwhile, the CS said Muthithi and Kangari modern markets being implemented in Kigumo Sub-county, were also lined for completion by December this year.
Construction of a six-storey Kangari market commenced back in 2020 and the project is at about 70 percent complete.
The Sh340 million market, which will have facilities like cold rooms, meeting halls, offices, restaurant among others is earmarked to house close to 650 traders.
“Kangari modern market is a major project and it will boost trading activities in this region. The government wants traders to have a clean and conducive environment to do their businesses. We are also targeting to hand over Muthithi market by December this year. Local Member of Parliament (MP) had requested the roof of the market be redesigned and that’s what is being done now,” said Wahome, adding the market projects were meant for wealth creation, since they would enhance trading activities.
During the tour, the CS also commissioned construction of Ngararia and Gatunyu Market projects in Kandara and Gatanga Sub counties respectively.
The markets, she said, are earmarked to be completed in a year’s time, so as to relieve traders who have been selling their merchandise on dusty grounds.
Governor Irungu Kang’ata lauded the implementation of the markets, saying they would improve economic activities in the County.
Kang’ata said his Administration is currently implementing a smart city project, where it aimed at improving infrastructure in all major urban centres within the County.
The project, he noted, will resume since the rains have subsided, listing some towns including Kenol, Kabati and Maragua, where the project was suspended due to heavy rains.
“The Smart City project is set to resume and work will continue from where it stopped due to heavy rains. The factored towns will get infrastructure upgrades, to boost business activities,” added the Governor.
By Bernard Munyao
