Embu residents repair 10km road after government “neglects it"

Residents living along the Kathageri-Kigumo-Kanyuambora road in Runyenjes constituency, Embu County spent the Labour Day repairing the 10km road after it was rendered impassable by the heavy rains for the last two months

The more than 100 residents, mainly youths, filled up gaping potholes, levelled uneven surfaces, unclogged culverts and cut overgrown bushes spreading to the road to make it motorable.

They said the road is Class C and consequently under the national government, but they resorted to rehabilitating it themselves after suffering for long waiting for the state to act.

Njiru wa Jesse, a farmer, said they were depressed seeing their fresh farm produce rotting as they could not deliver them to the market.

He said farmers had incurred heavy losses and the area risked lagging behind in development thus decided not to wait for the government to act any longer.

“The road passes through fertile areas that produce plenty of banana, mangoes, maize, beans, coffee and other foodstuff. We sell our produce to Ishiara market and in return buy goats there. But that has become impossible as the vehicles get stuck on the road even for days,” he said.

He said they have written to Kenya Rural Roads Authority, Transport Cabinet Secretary James Macharia, Embu Governor Martin Wambora, area MP Eric Muchangi and their MCAs to press for its tarmacking.

Mukuria primary school headteacher Catherine Wanja  said the road status inconvenienced teachers and affected learning in case a teacher arrived at school late.

“I drive 10km to the school but due to the rains the road has been impassable and I have been forced to driver 36km every day using the Runyenjes-Kanyuambora road. A teacher who arrives in class five minutes road, ends up wasting a lot of time for the pupils,” she pointed out.

She said local women were finding it difficult taking children to hospital or attending maternity services.

Prince Ndwiga, a transporter, said recently a woman gave birth while in a vehicle which was stuck in the mud while heading to Runyenjes Hospital.

He said boda boda riders were facing it rough and the few who managed to ride were charging Sh200 from the ordinary Sh50.

Last month, after angry residents dug up ditches on the road and planted bananas to protest the poor state of the road, MP Karemba said murraming would commence once the rains stop