Residents of Gatitu-Muruguru ward in Nyeri Township have welcomed the proposed extension of the Marua dualling to Nyeri town and construction of Kiamuiru-Githiru-Thunguma-Kirimara-Kabiruini –Mweiga bypass.
While giving their views on the proposed projects at Gatitu trading centre on Monday, residents also requested the contractor to ensure those who would be working on the project are locals.
The residents also requested the Government to ensure the bidder who would be offered the contract would undertake corporate social responsibility along the highway as a way of giving back to the community.
The two projects earmarked as Nyeri Town Roads and Nyeri By-Pass will constitute a 14.89 kilometer improvement stretch and 24.89 kilometers tarmacking respectively.
The Government through Kenya National Highways Authority is currently undertaking an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment, Resettlement Action Plan Studies and Detailed Engineering Design through funding from the African Development Bank (AfDB).
The latter is funding the ongoing construction of the 84-kilometre Kenol-Sagana-Marua dual carriageway which is nearing completion.
“While we welcome the move to launch these two projects, we wish to request the Government to ensure there are social amenities in our trading centres where this road is going to pass by. For instance, if you walk around Gatitu trading centre, you will not find a single public toilet for use by the residents. I also believe those who will be working on this project will need such amenities. Where will they get them unless they are put up now? posed Margaret Wamaitha, a public health officer from Gatitu.
One Julia Wanjiku called for the contractor to give people from the area first priority when it comes to the hiring of workers to be deployed in the project.
She complained that previous contractors have been ferrying workers including casual labourers from other parts of the country leaving out locals without an opportunity to earn from such projects.
“Let us be given assurance that once construction works start, people from this area will not be left out. In the past, people from here were left out in similar projects despite the fact that they did possess various technical skills including in plant operation. We, therefore, ask the contractor to pick such skilled people and offer them an opportunity to earn something which they can be proud of even when the project is completed,” requested Wanjiku who is planning to run for the Gatitu-Murugu ward seat on a UDA ticket in 2027.
Residents also raised the question on the compensation process once they forfeit part of their land for the projects.
They claimed that government red tape had in the past delayed compensation to the rightful beneficiaries due to the complex process resulting in the death of some land owners before they could receive their dues.
“My land has been among those listed under Projected Affected Persons but I am not sure whether I will get any compensation on time seeing how frail and stricken in years I am. We have previously seen people cede their land for road construction to the State only to end up dying out without getting any form of compensation. My question is: will I be among those who shall suffer a similar fate?” she asked.
But Wanjohi Gachago welcomed the move by the Government to initiate the two projects terming them a gesture of goodwill to the residents.
He said he was fully behind the projects and urged residents to support them to the very end.
“This road project is a great boost to all residents of this area since it will transform the way of doing things in terms of mobility and even commerce. Ultimately all of us stand to
benefit once it is completed and we should therefore support it to the end,” he stated.
One James Kahuthu requested the Kenya National Highway Authorities (KeNHA) to ensure trading centres located along the proposed highway are given a facelift by having feeder roads tarmacked.
He noted that the majority of the small towns and trading centres that lie along the tarmac roads lacked proper tarmacked roads and other social amenities, a challenge that inconveniences both traders and residents alike.
Joy Wasiririmba, an official from Wanjohi Mutonyi Consult Limited, requested those with issues on beacon allocation to liaise with the Regional KeNHA office for clarification.
She assured the residents that while her office was not in a position to answer all their grievances, there was still time to sort out any outstanding matters before the construction work commences.
“We have heard all your grievances and responded appropriately to those which are under our purview while KenHA will be responding to others especially those touching on survey and allocation of beacons. I therefore wish to request you to visit the KeNHA regional office and raise such matters where I believe they will be better handled,” she said.
“On issue of sanitation I want to assure you that the contractors who will be awarded this project will come with their toilets. They must also provide quality drinking water for their workers. This is a mandatory requirement which will undergo monitoring by the Supervision Engineer every month,” Wasiririmba said.
Nyeri Town MP, Duncan Maina Mathenge, urged residents to embrace the project as their own since it would open up the areas for additional growth and development.
He also lauded the residents for tuning up in large numbers for the event and pledged to ensure the preliminaries for the start of the project are finalized on time to pave way for the next phase which would entail the budgetary process.
“I appeal to all residents of the constituency to support this project in order to ensure we are through with the assessment process by June this year awaiting only the budgetary process. I also wish to request those with disputes over land to have such issues ironed out on time,” he told the residents.
“Do not fail to air your views and recommendations on whether this project will be beneficial to you and whether it will open up in terms of building new hospitals, schools, churches and how they will be impacted by the project,” urged Maina.
By Samuel Maina
