Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has announced a Sh35 billion road tarmacking programme for Tharaka Nithi County, pledging to revive stalled infrastructure projects and accelerate the implementation of key development initiatives aimed at improving transport, education, electricity access and livelihoods.
Speaking during a public engagement with residents of Maara Constituency at Mitheru Chief’s Camp Grounds on Thursday, October 22, 2026, Prof Kindiki said the government had prioritised 515 kilometres of roads for upgrading to bitumen standards across the county.
He said the programme was part of a broader development agenda that also includes the construction of the new Nithi River Bridge, affordable housing, fresh produce markets, student hostels and expanded electricity connections.
The Deputy President said the government was committed to addressing long standing infrastructure challenges that have affected residents, farmers, traders and students, while ensuring that ongoing projects were completed to improve economic activity.
Among the roads earmarked for construction is the Mitheru-Kiini-Giampampo-Muthenge-Kamachuku road, where works commenced this week.
Kindiki inspected the ongoing works and pledged government intervention to unlock projects that have stalled or experienced slow progress, including the Kajiunduthi-Weru Tea Factory-Iriga-Mutindwa-Kianjagi-Chogoria road.
The Weru-Chogoria road is among the projects expected to receive renewed attention as the government seeks to improve connectivity between rural production areas, markets and institutions.
The planned road investments are expected to ease the transportation of agricultural produce, reduce travel time and improve access to schools, hospitals and other essential services.
The construction of the new Nithi River Bridge emerged as one of the major highlights of Kindiki’s development tour, with the Deputy President witnessing the commencement of works on the long awaited infrastructure project.
The existing bridge along the Nairobi-Embu-Meru highway has been a notorious accident black spot since its construction in 1985, with numerous vehicles plunging into the river and claiming lives over the years.
Residents have for decades called for a safer crossing, citing the dangers posed by the existing infrastructure and the need for a modern bridge capable of handling traffic along the busy transport corridor.
Kindiki said the government had committed to replacing the old bridge but explained that the complexity of the design and the high cost of construction had required additional time to finalise the project.
The new bridge will stretch 880 metres and rise 100 metres above the river, with 2.7 kilometres of approach roads connecting Marima and Mitheru centres.
The project will cost Sh7.5 billion and is expected to significantly improve road safety while enhancing transport links between the region and other parts of the country.
Kindiki said funding for the project had been secured and ring fenced, expressing confidence that the construction period, initially set at 24 months, could be shortened without compromising the quality of works or the required engineering standards.
The project is expected to provide a lasting solution to a transport challenge that has troubled motorists and residents for nearly four decades.
Beyond road infrastructure, Kindiki said development projects worth about Sh10 billion were being implemented or planned across the county, covering fresh produce markets, affordable housing and student accommodation.
The initiatives include the Sh974 million Chogoria affordable housing project and the Sh70 million Chogoria Economic Stimulus Programme market.
The government is also investing in education infrastructure, including the expansion of student accommodation and plans to upgrade the Chogoria campus to university college status.
Kindiki said the proposed elevation of the campus would expand access to higher education and create opportunities for young people seeking professional and technical training.
He said the government recognised the importance of investing in institutions of learning alongside physical infrastructure to ensure that young people acquired the skills needed to participate in the economy.
The proposed university college status for Chogoria campus is expected to strengthen the area’s position as an education centre, although the process is still underway.
The Deputy President also inspected the ongoing construction of a 580 bed student hostel at Muraga Technical Training College in Maara Constituency.
The project, valued at Sh260 million, was reported to be 25 per cent complete during the inspection.
The hostel is part of the government’s wider programme to expand student accommodation near universities and technical and vocational education and training institutions.
Nationally, the government is applying the housing fund to support the provision of accommodation for approximately 180,000 tertiary and university students.
Kindiki said access to decent accommodation near learning institutions was an important factor in improving students’ welfare and academic performance.
The Muraga project is expected to reduce pressure on existing accommodation facilities and provide students with housing closer to the college.
The investment also reflects the growing emphasis on technical training as a pathway to employment, entrepreneurship and industrial development.
On electricity access, Kindiki announced that Tharaka Nithi County had received Sh1.2 billion to connect an additional 10,000 households to the national grid.
Of this amount, Sh138 million had been allocated to connect 2,000 households in Maara Constituency.
He pledged to double the allocation for Maara to accelerate the rollout of connections, with the aim of increasing electricity access from the current 70 per cent to 90 per cent within one year and achieving universal connectivity within 18 months.
The planned expansion is expected to benefit households, small businesses, traders and institutions that have been unable to access reliable electricity.
Improved electricity access could also support rural enterprises, enhance security and enable more young people to access digital services and learning opportunities.
Kindiki said the government was prioritising the extension of essential services to communities that had remained underserved, as part of its broader development programme.
The Deputy President said farmers in the county were benefiting from reduced prices of fertiliser, seeds and sexed semen, alongside improved earnings from coffee and milk sales.
He cited the supply of nine milk coolers to dairy farmers in the county as part of efforts to strengthen the dairy value chain and improve the handling and marketing of milk.
The equipment is expected to support milk collection and preservation, helping farmers reduce post-harvest losses and improve the quality of milk delivered to processors.
Agriculture remains a major source of income for many households in Tharaka Nithi, making access to affordable farm inputs and reliable markets critical to rural livelihoods.
Kindiki said the government was pursuing measures to lower production costs while improving farmers’ earnings, arguing that agricultural growth was central to household incomes and the county’s economic development.
The initiatives are also intended to strengthen the link between production, storage, processing and access to markets.
On healthcare, Kindiki said approximately 80 per cent of residents in Tharaka Nithi had enrolled in the government-run health insurance scheme, placing the county among the top five nationally in access to universal health coverage.
He said the uptake demonstrated progress in efforts to expand access to medical services and reduce the financial burden of healthcare on households.
However, sustained enrolment and access to quality medical services will remain important in ensuring that residents can translate insurance coverage into timely and affordable treatment.
The government has positioned health coverage as a key pillar of its social protection agenda, particularly for low income households that are vulnerable to high medical expenses.
Kindiki was accompanied by Maara MP Kareke Mbiuki, Tharaka MP Gitonga Murugara and Chuka/Igambang’ombe MP Patrick Munene.
Also present were members of the county assembly, political aspirants, professionals and grassroots leaders.
The engagement provided a platform for the Deputy President to outline the government’s development priorities and update residents on ongoing and planned projects in the county.
The commitments now place the focus on implementation, particularly the completion of stalled roads, delivery of the new Nithi Bridge and the timely execution of housing, education and electricity projects.
For residents, the impact of the announced investments will ultimately be measured by safer roads, improved access to essential services, better learning facilities and stronger economic opportunities for households and businesses.
