The tarmacking of the Kutus–Kimbimbi road has improved access to markets and essential services while providing relief to farmers in Mwea, who have for years struggled with high transport costs and poor road conditions.
The road links Kutus town to Kimbimbi along the Mwea–Embu Highway. Its construction has eased transportation challenges for farmers who previously relied on animal-drawn carts, including donkeys and oxen, to transport farm produce due to the poor roads.
Residents say the improved road has also enhanced access to the Kirinyaga County Government headquarters in Kutus and Kimbimbi Level 4 Hospital.
Moses Wachira said the construction of the road had brought significant relief to the community. He said farmers who grow crops and keep livestock can now transport their produce to markets more easily and on time.
“The road was an obstacle. Now farmers can access the market on a timely basis,” he said.
Wachira recalled the difficulties residents faced when the road was still impassable, saying he could only cycle to school during the dry season.
“We used to go through this road. I had a bicycle. I would cycle in the morning; maybe by the time I got back it had rained. I had to carry the bicycle on my shoulder,” he recalled, adding the road is already being used by a few vehicles as a bypass between Kutus and Kimbimbi.
Wachira said they expect transportation costs to fall further once the project is fully completed. “By the time it is completed, because they say it will be by the end of this year, PSV vehicles can fully utilize it. Maybe we will pay a small amount of money,” Wachira said.
Peter Warui echoed the sentiments, saying it had previously been difficult to get vehicles to collect farm produce directly from farms.
He urged the contractor to install road bumps at appropriate points to help minimize accidents. He also noted that transport fares had significantly reduced since construction began.
Stephen Murage, a resident of Kianganga village, said the road had remained in poor condition for a long time and that its construction was a major relief to residents.
“The road, which had been impassable in the past, will be critical in reducing transportation costs and helping to minimize post-harvest losses in the area,” Murage said.
He added that proper drainage would help improve the flow of water from higher grounds and prevent damage to the road.
The Kutus–Kimbimbi road is part of a wider programme covering 510 kilometers of new roads in Kirinyaga County. It is being undertaken at a cost of Sh29.8 billion.
By Mutai Kipng’etich
