Construction work on the Kibwezi-Kitui road is well on course. The project which was launched by President Uhuru Kenyatta in December 2016, finally crossed the border of Makueni and Kitui counties at Athi Market last week, triggering celebrations among the locals.
Milestone
Until the milestone for the international trunk highway was achieved, the constituency did not have any tarmac road and residents have waited 55 years to see one.
The US $182.1m road project which cuts across eight other constituencies, is situated in lower eastern region, starting at the junction of the Nairobi-Mombasa road near Kibwezi Town. It runs northward via Ikutha, Mutomo, Kitui, Kabati and ends at Migwani.
Kitui South residents were ecstatic because, they said, they felt successive governments had marginalized the area for decades by failing to develop its infrastructure.
Also read: Kenya Roads Board seeking US$ 547m for road maintenance
Progress
Kitui South MP Rachael Kaki Nyamai, who toured the road section, said residents were happy with the progress of the project and grateful to President Uhuru Kenyatta’s administration for keeping his campaign pledge to tarmac the road.
“We are happy that this important infrastructure development is happening in our time because it will open Kitui South to the world,” the MP told journalists after taking a 1km walk along the new highway near Athi Market.
Ms Nyamai said once complete, the upgrading of the road to bitumen standard would facilitate faster movement of goods and services and unlock the economic potential of Makueni and Kitui counties.
