Joy as Kianyaga Town get facelift
Residents of Kianyaga town and its environs are all smiles after the completion of tarmacking of access roads and improvement of drainage system within the town. The project which was commissioned by the Governor Anne Waiguru in July 2021 involved upgrading of 4.6 kilometers of roads to bitumen standards.
The project was a collaboration between the County Government of Kirinyaga and the National Government through the Stormwater Drainage and Urban Development project. The project is aimed at improving water drainage systems and offer sustainable storm water management in various towns in the County. Residents of Kamiigua village in Kabare ward who are part of the community that has benefited from the project expressed joy over a new tarmacked link road that connects Kianyaga-Kutus road with Kutus-Samson Corner Road at Rukenya.
“Previously, this road was so narrow that even an ox-cart and a motorcycle couldn’t pass each other. During the rainy seasons, taking our produce to the market was a total nightmare. We as the residents are overly excited for this new road and want to thank the county government for a job well done,” said one of the residents Benson Ngondi. Speaking at Kianyaga town, section of the residents said upgrading of the roads would lead to improved livelihood. “When it rained, the elderly people, especially women could not make it to church since the road was so slippery. However, right now, everyone can comfortably access the church and other amenities,” she added.
The County Executive Committee Member for Lands, Physical Planning and Urban Planning, Rev. Samuel Kanjobe said that the project has completely changed the face of Kianyaga town. “This project will change the face of the fast-growing town and provide an inclusive, efficient and conducive business environment that will spur economic growth for the people,” said Kanjobe. The roads covered by the project includes, Catholic dispensary link road-1.4km, Kianyaga Government Houses link road-1.2km, Kiburia Girls School junction to ICT Centre road-0.4km, Children Home link road-0.4km and Kamiigua–Rukenya road-1.2km.
Governor Waiguru says Kianyaga’s upgrade is one of the major transformative infrastructural development programs being undertaken in the county’s urban towns. Other towns that have been upgraded include Kerugoya, Kutus, Kagio where about 25,000 square meters of cabro pavements have already been laid creating more than 800 car parking slots and easy accessibility of business premises. A similar upgrade program is currently going on in Wang’uru town where over 30kms of roads are being tarmacked while Kutus town is also earmarked for tarmacking of more streets.“The projects are part of an elaborate plan by the County Government to continually improve the municipality’s infrastructure as an enabler to socio-economic development and improved livelihoods for all the residents.” said the governor.
Apart from tarmacking and installation of street lights, the County Government has also been constructing modern markets in various towns in the county with the aim of providing a conducive environment for traders. In the last five years Waiguru’s administration has constructed a total of 16 markets which include Makutano, Wang’uru, Kagio Cereals, Kagio Clothes Market, Kutus, Kerugoya, Kianyaga, Kagumo, Kiamutugu, Sagana and Kibingoti.
