The Government has commenced the tarmacking of six kilometres Juja Farm road in Kiambu County at a cost of Sh3.9 billion, ending decades of false starts and perennial headache to residents over its poor state.
The seven kilometers road that connects Juja town to Juja Farm and funded by Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA) was launched by State Department of Infrastructure Principal Secretary, Paul Maringa and Kiambu Governor James Nyoro.
The road that will be done by H. Young, will use low volume technology and will be completed in six months.
Speaking in Thika Tuesday, the PS said the road is part of Sh 30 billion Mau Mau roads that are being done in Murang’a, Nyeri and Kiambu Counties to open up the region.
He said it was critical to tarmac the road to open up the area and to enhance connectivity within the county, bearing in mind the growing population and industrial development in the area.
It will be an extension of 75 kilometers of road that is being tarmacked from Gatundu to Juja and will connect the many industries, schools and residential areas that are coming up in Juja farm.
The road is a major bypass through Ma-store, Athi and Gatuanyaga in Thika and has been a perennial headache to the residents of Juja Farm estates.
“We will first do seven kilometers to Juja Farm, and then in the coming budget, we shall extend the construction to the remaining 28 kilometers through to Komo, Githima and the Garissa Highway,” said Maringa.
He said since it will only accommodate smaller trucks for its durability, it will have weighbridges to prevent heavy trucks from destroying the road.
The road is commonly used by trucks that ferry building stones from local quarries.
Other roads being constructed in the Sub County are the extension of the Kenyatta road at a cost of Sh1 billion and the tarmacking of the Bob Harris road at the same amount.
On his part, Nyoro said the road users will be relieved after years of complaining over its poor state.
He assured locals that they will get casual jobs and that local quarry will provide building stones and other raw materials for its construction.
“This is a dream come true that will end the political rhetoric that has always been associated with the road. I urge the road users, especially trucks to comply with contractor guidelines as this road will be very congested when works begin,” said Nyoro.
In mid last year, the then Governor Ferdinand Waititu, now impeached, launched a similar project that was to cost Sh280 million purportedly from the County government coffers but it turned out to be a still-birth despite a contractor being on the ground at the ground-breaking ceremony.
Ends/Infrastructure/Ngatia/Gikundi
Caption
Photo 1: Infrastructure Principal Secretary Paul Maringa addressing Juja town residents during the launch of Juja farm road Monday November 2,2020.
Photo 2: The launch of the tarmacking of six kilometers Juja farm road in Juja Sub County by Infrastructure Principal Secretary Paul Maringa on Tuesday November 2, 2020. The road had become a campaign tool by local politicians and a big headache to residents over its poor state.
By Muoki Charles