The government has started the construction of a 35-kilometer road at a cost of Ksh 3.9 billion road in Kiambu County, a year after former Governor Ferdinand Waititu launched the same project at a cost of Ksh 280 million.
Waititu'a project never kicked off despite the county commissioning a contractor at the groundbreaking ceremony.
Transport Principal Secretary (PS) Paul Maringa and Kiambu Governor James Nyoro launched the tarmacking of the first 7 kilometers Juja Farm Road on Tuesday, November 3.
Residents had lamented that they had been promised a better road network for over a decade, but projects kept stalling as politicians made unfulfilled promises.
The Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KRRA) will fund the construction of the road which connects Juja town and Juja Farm.
PS Maringa said that the project is part of the government's plan to upgrade roads in Murang'a, Nyeri and Kiambu Counties at a cost of Ksh 30 billion.
“We will first do seven kilometres to Juja Farm, and then in the coming budget, we shall extend the construction to the remaining 28 kilometres through to Komo, Githima and the Garissa Highway,” Maringa assured.
A weighbridge will also be part of the road project to ensure that tracks adhere to the stipulated weight limit.
"This is a dream come true that will end the political rhetoric that has always been associated with the road. I urge the road users, especially trucks to comply with contractor guidelines as this road will be very congested when works begin,” Governor Nyoro added.
The county is also facing an uplift in other areas, with Kenyatta and Bob Harris Roads being tarmacked at Ksh 1 billion each.
Waititu was ousted as Kiambu Governor in January 2020 after MCAs accused him of graft and abuse of office.
Apart from the Juja Farm Road saga, he was also accused of launching a fake Ksh 1 billion rehabilitation project dubbed Kaa Sober.
The former governor is battling a Ksh 588 million graft case in court.
