Francis Muli
The government is building a 62 kilometre road through President Uhuru Kenyatta’s rural home in Ichaweri village, connecting Thika Superhighway and Kiambu Road.
The road runs from Kiambu Road through Kirigiti, Ngewa, Ichaweri, Gatundu and Mangu to Thika highway and will cost the government Ksh11 billion.
According to the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA), the road should be completed by June 2022, months before President Uhuru Kenyatta’s retirement.
“The government has earmarked funds through the development vote for use in engaging the consultancy services to undertake preliminary and detailed engineering design, environmental and social impact study, preliminary and detailed engineering design of Kiambu – Ngewa –Kibichoi (B30) Road,” says an environmental impact assessment (EIA) report for the road.
Read: How KeNHA Inflated Cost Of Mombasa-Nairobi Expressway By 67 PC, Forcing US To Delay Funding
According to the plan of the road, the first stretch of 12 kilometres from Kiambu Road to Ngewa will be dual carriage while the 36-kilometre route from Ngewa to Gatundu through Ichaweri and Mangu will be single carriage. From Mangu to Thika highway (14 kilometres), the road will be dual carriage.
“The growth of existing market centres along the road corridor, Ngewa, Riobai, Komothai and Gatukuyu, will lead to increased job opportunities and economic activities of the people which will not only contribute to economic growth within these trading centres,” says the EIA report.
The public have 30 days to submit their recommendations before tendering is done.
This will be the biggest project done in Gatundu since President Uhuru Kenyatta was elected president in 2014.
In the past, leaders from the President’s backyard have been accusing hing of neglecting the region in terms of development, despite receiving massive political support from residents.
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