Thika: The construction of a Sh650 million state-of-the-art vehicle inspection centre at Makongeni in Thika, has gathered momentum, presenting a road safety boost to motorists as well as residents from the region.
According to Kenya News Agency, the facility, funded by the World Bank through the National Government, is the largest of its kind in East and Central Africa and is expected to be complete by the end of the year. Eng John Cliff Otieno, who is overseeing the project, stated that the centre is poised to transform vehicle inspection services, increasing capacity from the current 200 vehicles inspected per day to over 3,000.
The new facility will feature modern equipment, including driving simulators for testing drivers' skills and offering refresher courses to ensure drivers are fit to operate vehicles on Kenyan roads. This development comes as the existing inspection centre within Thika town struggles to keep up with rising demand for vehicle inspection services from the Mt Kenya region, Nairobi, and parts of Eastern Kenya.
'The modern equipment will improve testing of our drivers to ensure road compliance. Its capacity will significantly reduce congestion at the current facility while ensuring vehicles on our roads meet the highest safety standards,' Otieno stated.
Thika Town MP Alice Ng'ang'a, who toured the site to inspect the progress, lauded the project as a game-changer in enhancing road safety as well as cementing Thika's status as a strategic transport and economic hub. 'This inspection centre is not just about vehicle safety. It's about creating jobs, improving local businesses, and making Thika a hub for road safety,' she said.
Ng'ang'a noted that the facility would offer employment opportunities to local youth, both skilled and unskilled, and stimulate growth for surrounding businesses along the busy highway. 'The businesses around Makongeni and beyond will benefit as drivers travel from as far as Meru and other regions for vehicle inspection. This project will bring life to this area,' Ng'ang'a added.
Residents led by Anthony Imbasia welcomed the initiative, expressing gratitude for the employment opportunities it has created during construction. 'Both men and women from this area have found jobs, and this has helped families put food on the table,' Imbasia said.