For over a decade, the residents of budding Kimbo and Matangini villages in Juja, Kiambu county have endured a seemingly endless struggle with their main road—a 6km stretch riddled with potholes, mud and dust, which has turned their daily commutes into a nightmare. 

What should be a simple route connecting residents of the vast Theta Ward to the Thika Superhighway has instead become a symbol of neglect and frustration, affecting livelihoods, safety, and ruining economic prospects for over 25,000 people. 

Angered by inaction by the government, the locals yesterday amplified their calls for repair of the stretch. The busy road that was tarmacked during the tenure of disgraced governor Ferdinand Waititu is now a pale shadow of its glory days after it developed huge potholes, rendering it practically impassable. 

According to the motorists, driving on the road has become arduous and dangerous especially now with the ongoing rains since most potholes are now submerged under water, making them invisible. 

Constant repairs 

Duncan Wambugu, a driver who frequently uses the road, told journalists that while the road sought to bring to an end decades of transport woes and spur economic activities in the area, the contractor did a shoddy job as even before he left the site, the road had started wearing out. 

Wambugu regretted that public service vehicles operating in the area have been forced to hike fares to meet the expensive cost of maintaining their vehicles, which have been frequenting garages due to persistent breakdowns. 

“This area is very populous and we love ferrying people from the interior parts to the highway but it has come at a very high cost. We have been forced to hike our fares to meet the increased maintenance costs of our vehicles,” Wambugu told journalists. 

Wambugu narrated heart-wrenching stories of how pregnant women have been developing labour pains and end up being forced to deliver along the road. 

Failure to put up better drainage, hurried compacting of the stretch and low-grade tarmacking of the road are among the reasons the locals cited for its current derelict state. 

“The road is in a pathetic state and as you have seen, its sorry state has become a breeding ground for Guinea Grass among other plantations, which are mushrooming.  

We have been crying for the remedy of this situation in futility,” said James Maina, a tailor in the area. 

Accidents and waterborne diseases are also said to have increased in the area due to increased potholes and stagnant water, which creates an ideal environment for harmful bacteria, parasites and fungi to grow.  

Since the Sh200 million road was poorly done, the locals regret that they have been desperately watching the road gradually descend even further into a state of disrepair as their complaints have been falling on deaf ears, with their patience now running thin. 

Of much concern to them is the blame game between the local and national government over who is responsible to tarmac it. 

According to Loise Njeri, the road was initially tarmacked by the county government but after it began wearing out, it was moved to the national government for repair. 

The local government led by Governor Kimani Wamatangi would later gravel and re-compact it, leaving locals unaware to whom they should address their grievances. 

“This road is a vital lifeline for the community around it. Over 25,000 residents live here but due to its pathetic state, even businesses have started closing down. Of major concern is the tug-of-war between the national and county government over who is responsible for putting it up. It is sad that it has now become a symbol of neglect and abandonment and no one seems to care,” said Njeri. 

County promise 

Njeri told journalists that the impenetrable stretch has not only become uncomfortable and unsafe as the users have been risking head-on collisions with other motorists as they swerve to avoid the potholes but has also seen them spend more hours to and from home. 

They called on the government to promptly intervene and have the road redone to the required status as stipulated in the original design to facilitate the smooth movement of goods and services. 

“We want the blame game to come to an end and action taken. The government should own up to the mistake of the derelict state of our road and endeavour to have it reconstructed to the required standards for a better transport network. We need to smoothly move farm produce, construction materials and residents who work in offices efficiently,” said Karanja Ndung’u, a local. 

When he toured the road recently, Kiambu governor Kimani Wamatangi promised that his administration would tarmac the stretch to open up the interior villages for social-economic development. 

“The Kimbo-Matangi-ini road, which has been in deplorable condition, is being rehabilitated through gravelling as a temporary measure to make it motorable, as my administration plans on tarmacking it,” he said in July 2024.