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Completion of the Sh 1.7 billion road project in Thika, Kiambu County is expected to open up the industrious town for more economic growth.
The 15-kilometer road project that crisscrosses various factories and industries within the busy town has been in dilapidated state for decades, slowing economic transformation of a town that generates more than 50 percent of Kiambu County revenue.
Further, the poor state of the road has been causing crazy traffic snarl-ups resulting in poor business operations and loss of money on wasted time.
Speaking after inspecting completion of the road which has been opened for use by motorists, Thika MP Patrick Wainaina acclaimed the Jubilee government for committing to not only industrialize the town but also improve its infrastructure for conducive business operations.
He said that during his tenure, the government has managed to tarmac about 50-kilometers of roads, a development that he said will continue to spur economic growth of the area and livelihoods.
However, the MP decried that the major project has stalled at a section near the sprawling Umoja slums after alleged clique of land grabbers sought court injunctions claiming that the plots where the road was designed to pass through belong to them.
He decried that proliferation of land grabbers in the busy town have resulted in slowed development and vowed to move to court to quash the litigation to allow for completion of the key road.
“I will move to court in due time seeking to quash the injunction that has made a section of the project stall. We will not entertain the greed with the land grabbers that has now grown to this level of even selling public roads to unsuspecting buyers,” he said.
At the same time, the MP said the government has intentions to open up the busy town further and plans are underway to make Garissa Road a dual carriage for more effectiveness.
Residents who could not hide their joy said that completion of the project will improve their business operations enabling them to thrive.
“We are happy that gradually, the government has continued to end traffic snarl-up in this town. With such a project, we can be sure of doing business in a conducive environment. However, we expect the government to do more by opening up the remaining bypasses connecting Thika with Murang’a for more effectiveness,” Jackline Mwende, a resident said.
The ecstatic locals said they felt successive governments had marginalized the area for decades by failing to develop its infrastructure.
They said the road will facilitate faster movement of goods and services and unlock the economic potential of Thika and other neighbouring towns.