Mt Kenya Residents Welcome Road Upgrades, Cite Boost to Trade and Agriculture

Residents in parts of Mt Kenya have welcomed road improvement projects, saying better infrastructure is making transportation easier and creating new opportunities for trade and agriculture.  

The improvements along the Kenol-Sagana-Karatina Highway, Karatina-Kiamabara-Mungetho-Gatike/Mukurweini Junction Road and Kivuwe-Makengi-Runyenjes Road have brought renewed optimism among residents, who say the projects are addressing long-standing challenges caused by congestion, potholes, mud, dust and high transport costs. 

Jackson Gikunju, a driver at Kenol stage who has driven for 13 years, said transport has become easier since the Kenol-Sagana-Karatina Highway was improved, with movement from areas such as Kirinyaga to Nairobi now easier than before. 

He said expanding the road further into a superhighway with more lanes would make transportation even smoother and reduce the difficulties faced by motorists. 

Jackson recalled that the road previously experienced heavy traffic, particularly for vehicles travelling from Embu towards Nairobi, with traffic jams sometimes starting from Makuyu and making it difficult to pass through Kenol because of congestion.

"Previously, there was heavy traffic on the road, especially for vehicles travelling from Embu towards Nairobi. Traffic jams could start from Makuyu, and passing through Kenol was not easy because of the congestion," he said.

Elizabeth Wairimu, also known as Mama Yvonne, said residents are happy with the ongoing works on the Karatina-Kiamabara-Mungetho-Gatike/Mukurweini Junction Road, noting that completion of the tarmac will make movement easier and allow residents to access markets without getting their shoes covered in mud. 

She said the road will benefit boda boda riders by helping them earn their daily income, feed their families and support their children’s education, while farmers and traders will also be able to transport their produce to markets more easily and earn better from their work. 

Elizabeth recalled that the road previously had numerous potholes and had deteriorated so badly that residents planted bananas on it to express their frustration, while patients struggled to reach hospitals, school vehicles delayed children and residents arrived in Karatina covered in mud.

On his part, Emilio Njue, a resident of Makengi, said the Kivuwe-Makengi-Runyenjes Road has given residents hope after many years of waiting for tarmac. 

He said the ongoing works are expected to make movement easier for farmers and traders, reduce transport costs, increase land values and improve businesses such as coffee and macadamia farming by making it cheaper to transport produce. 

Emilio shared that residents had not seen tarmac on the road since 1995 and that its poor condition had made movement difficult while forcing people to pay high transport costs, particularly when transporting macadamia and other farm produce. 

"The poor condition of the road made movement difficult and forced people to pay high transport costs, especially when moving macadamia and other farm produce," he stated. 

Michael Kathomba said the Kivuwe-Makengi-Runyenjes Road is giving residents renewed hope after years of waiting, noting that it will make it easier to transport miraa, macadamia, bananas and avocados while supporting businesses in areas such as Kivuti and Karingare. 

He stated the road will improve business, make the area cleaner, and help residents rise economically by reducing the challenges caused by mud during the rainy season and dust during the dry season. 

Michael recalled that the road had not been tarmacked since he was born, although he remembers it being murramed around 1978 when he was young, after which residents continued waiting for proper tarmac.

"The road will improve business, make the area cleaner and help residents rise economically. Traders and farmers will no longer struggle so much with mud during the rainy season or dust during the dry season, making movement and trade easier," he noted. 

Mama Muthoni, a trader at Kenol stage, said business has improved since the Kenol-Sagana-Karatina Highway was upgraded, with the road now connecting vehicles from Murang’a, Meru and Moyale, some of which stop at Kenol and support traders’ daily businesses. 

She hopes the area will also receive a flyover to help pedestrians cross safely and a proper stage for vehicles and passengers. Mama Muthoni says Kenol town has greater potential for growth because the improved road has made it easier for goods such as potatoes and groundnuts to reach the area. 

Muthoni noted that business was difficult before the road was improved because poor roads made movement and trade challenging. 

"Kenol town will continue growing because the road has made it easier for goods such as potatoes and groundnuts to be brought in from different places," she stated.

Elsewhere, Kericho residents have welcomed improvements at Kericho Referral Hospital, saying the availability of modern equipment and expanded medical services has improved patient care and reduced the need for referrals outside the county. 

The residents, however, want the government to continue investing in the facility by expanding diagnostic services, completing the planned cancer centre and increasing the number of qualified medical personnel. 

Catherine Nafula, a resident who has received treatment at Kericho Referral Hospital for a long time, said she has witnessed significant improvements in how patients are attended to, examined and treated.

She said laboratory services have also improved because the hospital now offers more tests, allowing patients to have their conditions assessed more effectively.

"Patients are now attended to well, checked properly, treated better, and laboratory services have improved because more tests are now available," she said.

Catherine said she would like the hospital to expand its testing capacity to include cancer screening and tests for diseases such as cholera, allowing patients to establish their conditions early and receive treatment in good time.

Dr. Rotich Joseph said the hospital has developed into a major healthcare facility serving the South Rift region, with thousands of patients now accessing services that previously required referrals to other hospitals.

He said the introduction of services including CT scans and dialysis has reduced referrals to Eldoret and Tenwek, allowing patients to receive specialised treatment closer to their homes.

"Services such as CT scans and dialysis are now available at the hospital, reducing referrals to Eldoret and Tenwek and helping patients receive treatment closer to home," he stated.

Dr. Rotich said modern equipment provided by the national government has strengthened patient examination and diagnosis, enabling doctors to identify medical conditions more accurately and provide appropriate treatment.

He said the additional machines have also helped reduce congestion, while patients who previously had to travel outside Kericho for treatment can now receive services within the county.