Business at Margua town in Murang’a County is expected to get a boost after the government completes rehabilitation of a link road connecting the town with Murang’a-Nairobi road which for a long period of time has remained in poor status.
For many years, local traders and residents of Maragua town have been decrying the pathetic status of the road which they claim has made their businesses suffer due to lack of customers pushed away by the dilapidated link road.
The traders on Tuesday in a press briefing appreciated efforts by the government to rehabilitate the road which will give life to the sleepy town.
They said local politicians for a long period have been giving false promises, which meant some traders lose hope and opt to seek other areas to run their businesses.
Led by Ichagaki MCA Charles Mwangi, the traders specifically lauded President Uhuru Kenyatta for his intervention which will also see Maragua-Ichagaki road be tarmacked.
Esther Murigi, a trader in Maragua town observed that many customers deserted the market after the road developed potholes posing a challenge to motorists.
She said it has been hard for them to make profit as buyers opt to buy farm produce in Murang’a town which is connected with good roads.
“With Kenya Rural Road Authority’s (KeRRA) rehabilitation of this road we hope our businesses will thrive as motorists especially public services vehicles will be entering Maragua town,” added Murigi.
On his part, John Maina, a boda boda rider observed that poor state of the road has occasioned boda boda operators to incur huge losses as their motorcycles break down more often.
“Now with rehabilitated roads we hope to make better profit. Thanks to the government and leaders who pushed for rehabilitation of the link road”, he added.
On his part the MCA noted that since 2012 the road has been in pathetic state and cries of the town residents were ignored.
Mwangi said the dilapidated road had negatively affected many businesses in the town even forcing some banks to close local branches.
“We hope the rehabilitated road will boost the business in this town and also serve the Maragua Level-4 hospital and the newly constructed Murang’a Technical Training Institute,” added the MCA.
With better link road, the Ichagaki MCA expressed hope that many investors may consider putting up businesses premises in the town which serves a big catchment area.
Maragua is an agricultural rich area and the sub-county contributes a big part in production of bananas in the country.
The town will also get a boost from the rehabilitated Nairobi-Nanyuki railway line which goes via the town located about 15 kilometres from Murang’a town.
By Bernard Munyao
