The government is fast-tracking completion of hundreds of kilometres of roads in Kiambu County costing 152 billion shillings in order to improve the region’s economy, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has said.
The DP stated that the money has been allocated for 1656 kilometres of road projects which are at various stages of completion in the county, revealing advanced plans to construct the Thika-Nairobi Expressway as promised by President Ruto.
Prof. Kindiki on Tuesday inspected development projects, including some of the roads under this programme, in Kiambaa and Gatundu South constituencies in the county promising to closely monitor their progress for faster completion.
“I am following up on all the roads under construction in the 12 constituencies in Kiambu. The roads are meant to improve the local economies especially in the rural areas. We want our farmers to transport their produce to the markets on time to avoid spoilage and losses,” DP said.
He said adequate funds have been set aside for the projects that also entail hundreds of kilometres of Mau Mau Roads passing through a number of constituencies in the devolved unit.
The Expressway that will ease congestion on the Thika Superhighway is at final design stages, DP revealed.
“We are designing and completing the feasibility studies for the Thika–Nairobi Expressway, which will allow motorists who want to use the elevated route to do so without interfering with the existing expressway,” he noted.
While asserting that more projects are in the pipeline including the expansion of the Muthaiga Roundabout-Kiambu Town Road costing billions of shillings, the Second in Command urged the residents to continue supporting the government for more development.
“Because of the development benefits we have seen in Kiambu, in Mt. Kenya and the whole country, we are saying we will stay in the government for our people to continue benefiting,” DP affirmed.
On Tuesday, Prof. Kindiki inspected the ongoing construction of Wangui-Mundoro-Gaitete Road in Gatundu South and later addressed residents at Mundoro shopping centre.
Earlier, the DP checked the progress of construction works at Karuri KMTC in Kiambaa Constituency being done at 200 million shillings with an extra 290 million shillings for student hostels allocated. He also engaged locals at Banana town informing them of ongoing development in the area.
In Kiambaa, the administration has constructed Banana–Ndenderu, Banana–Ruaka and Nduota–Gathanga–Kigwaru, Banana–Raini–Karuri High School Junction Roads while Karura-Gachie-Gacharage is nearing completion.
The contractor for the Kimachia–Northern Power Road is in place. The contract for the Gatuekira–GD–Njuru–Kigwaru Junction Road has been awarded and the contractor is on site. Another one is the Roseline–Total Ruaka–Kituamba–Ndenderu Road.
“We have the money to build and complete these roads. We have prioritized their construction,” DP affirmed.
The roads are among a range of development projects to a tune of billions of shillings ongoing in Kiambu County as is in other areas across the country.
There are 29 modern markets already under construction with additional two set for commencement in the county.
Several affordable housing projects and hostels spread across all the constituencies are also nearing completion.
“We are building this country step by step, project by project, kilometer by kilometer for the advancement of our nation,” he noted.
At the same time, the Deputy President said the noose is being tightened against the sale of illicit alcohol in the region asking the residents to support government measures to stamp out the menace.
“We cannot allow young people to be sold alcohol that harms their health and affects their reproductive health. The Government will not tolerate those who manufacture alcohol and add chemicals that harm the health of our young people,” he warned.
The DP was accompanied by MPs John Kawanjiku (Kiambaa), Githua Wamacukuru (Kabete), Alice Ng’ang’a (Thika Town), Anne Wamuratha (Kiambu Woman Rep), Simon King’ara (Ruiru), Mburu Kahangara (Lari), Correctional Services Principal Secretary Salome Muhia-Beacco, former Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria, Kiambu UDA senatorial aspirant Kogi Investor among others.
