President Uhuru Kenyatta on Saturday, August 6, commenced his two-day Mt Kenya tour where he launched various infrastructural projects.
Key among the projects inspected was the Kenol-Marua Road which is at 75 per cent completion. The project was undertaken to expand the road connecting Kenol in Murang’a County from a two-lane single carriage to a four-lane dual carriageway.
The 84 kilometres road traverses through the counties of Murang’a, Kirinyaga, and Nyeri. It will also form part of 800 kilometres Great North Road which connects Kenya to Ethiopia and other African countries.
In 2020, Uhuru’s government undertook the project in a bid to open up the Mount Kenya region and parts of the Eastern county regions.
The dual carriageway is projected to be completed in December 2022.
10 modern markets and 45 boda boda sheds will also be constructed along the road. In addition, the government also committed to constructing a state-of-the-art bus park at Karatina Town in Nyeri County.
President Uhuru, while inspecting the highway, defended his heavy investment in roads arguing that infrastructure is key to the foundation of economic development.
“Infrastructural development is the indication of performance. The foundation of growth lies in infrastructural projects and that is why we have prioritized advancements in infrastructure.”
On Monday, he commissioned the Ksh 24 billion Karimenu in Kiambu County. The Kirigiti Stadium was also launched on the same day adding to the list of the mega projects the Jubilee administration has undertaken in the region.
Uhuru will also commission the Mwai Kibaki Level 6 Hospital in Othaya whose upgrade cost Ksh1 billion.
The hospital started as the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) Othaya Annexe, before being renamed in honour of the late President Mwai Kibaki.
Uhuru previously urged the incoming government to continue with his development agenda after his retirement. He also defended his decision to borrow loans from credit facilitates, stating that the funds can be used to grow the economy if not embezzled.
