The Kirinyaga County Government has rolled out a Sh33 million modernization project to give Kutus town a major facelift and create a more conducive environment for businesses, residents and visitors.
The project, funded through the World Bank-supported Kenya Urban Support Program (KUSP), will involve installation of 2,500 square metres of cabro paving, construction of pedestrian walkways and storm-water drainage systems, stone pitching, landscaping and extensive tree planting.
The facelift follows efforts by Governor Anne Waiguru’s administration to establish and operationalize the Municipal Board while sourcing development funding to accelerate urban infrastructure improvement across the county.
The project is expected to directly affect about 100 traders during construction but is projected to benefit more than 500 traders, residents and customers indirectly once completed.
To organize business operations and improve security for traders’ goods, the project will include 10 fabricated container units housing 74 modern stalls. Seventy-three stalls will be allocated to local traders, while one unit will serve as a dedicated county revenue office.
The project will also address long-standing sanitation and water challenges by providing clean water points, washrooms and designated boda boda sheds.
Speaking during a stakeholder engagement forum, County Executive Committee (CEC) Member for Cooperatives, Trade, Tourism, Marketing, Industrialization and Enterprises Development Calbert Njeru said traders had been involved in the planning process.
“The traders who are directly affected by this project have been part of the journey. We have held several meetings with them and agreed that it is important for this project, which has come through our Governor, to be implemented here,” Njeru said.
He said affected traders would be temporarily relocated to allow construction works to proceed quickly and replace old structures with safer and modern premises.
Njeru noted that some of the existing structures had deteriorated over the years and were no longer suitable for traders and customers.
“Some of the roofing materials here date back decades and do not provide a conducive environment. We ask for patience and support from traders and customers during this transition, as the final outcome will bring long-term benefits to Kutus and Kirinyaga at large,” he said.
CEC Member for Lands, Physical Planning and Urban Development Rev. Samuel Kanjombe said Kutus, being the county headquarters, had experienced rapid population growth, with the town now serving more than 40,000 residents.
The population includes more than 25,000 students at Kirinyaga University, local investors, church headquarters staff and county employees.
“The population in Kutus continues to grow every day, creating immense pressure on existing infrastructure. Under Governor Waiguru’s leadership, we are reorganizing underutilized spaces to accommodate more traders and investors in a structured environment,” Kanjombe said.
He said the multi-phase project would also remove hazardous old roofing materials, including asbestos, and replace them with modern prefabricated units.
Subsequent phases will focus on expanding public green spaces, recreation areas and modern sanitation facilities to improve the town’s overall environment.
Local traders welcomed the project, saying it would address persistent challenges such as poor drainage, muddy surfaces and leaking roofs during rainy seasons.
Douglas Irungu, chairman of Kutus Traders, said the business community supported the modernization programme because it would directly improve the trading environment.
“We support this project because it belongs to us and will directly benefit our businesses. The promise of improved drainage, clean water access, and a greener environment gives us confidence that Kutus will become a much better place to trade,” Irungu said.
Lydia Kimathi, a trader who has operated in Kutus for nearly two decades, welcomed the ongoing urban investments and expressed optimism that the project would transform the town.
“Having traded here for almost 20 years, we are thrilled to see this place modernized. We thank Governor Waiguru for her vision, first by introducing cabro paving that ended our struggle with mud, and now by providing clean, modern stalls for us to work in,” she said.
By Mutai Kipng’etich
