Nyandarua: The government has initiated an extensive upgrade of 282 kilometers of rural roads in Nyandarua County, which will be elevated to bitumen standards through the Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KERRA).
According to Kenya News Agency, Engineer Mirriam Kariuki, a KERRA official for the Nyandarua region, addressed the Nyandarua County Implementation Coordination and Management Committee (CICMC) on Wednesday, revealing that the seven ongoing road projects are collectively valued at Sh11.4 billion. Despite the significant progress, only two of these projects have surpassed 50 percent physical completion.
Eng. Kariuki also shared that KERRA had successfully completed four road projects in Nyandarua covering 78 kilometers between 2016 and 2024, at a total cost of Sh4.7 billion. These previous accomplishments set a foundation for the current ambitious venture.
Additionally, KERRA is engaged in two road maintenance projects worth Sh105 million in the Kinangop and Oljoroorok constituencies. Meanwhile, two other maintenance projects have been completed in Ndaragwa and Olkalou at an expenditure of Sh68 million.
Eng. Kariuki identified financial constraints and adverse weather conditions, particularly heavy rains, as the main challenges impeding the progress of road works in the county. These challenges have necessitated strategic planning to ensure timely completion of the projects.
During the meeting, Nyandarua County Commissioner Abdirisack Jaldesa highlighted the importance of collaborative efforts among government departments. He stressed that inter-departmental cooperation is essential for ensuring coordinated and seamless project implementation, given the interlinked nature of most services.