Residents of Tharaka Nithi will gain from a Kes9 billion road project intended to improve transportation in arid and semi-arid regions.
The "Climate Proofed Rural Roads Project" was first launched in 2017 as a way to link low-rainfall regions with county-seat locations.
It will cover six counties, Meru, Laikipia, Samburu, Marsabit, Isiolo, and Tharaka-Nithi, and is supported by the European Union, the French government, and the Kenyan government.
The project, estimated to cost Kes9 billion and receives a total of Kes1.5 billion from Tharaka Nithi, would build about 81 kilometres of roads throughout the County.
The governor of Tharaka Nithi, Muthomi Njuki, stated to representatives and engineers that the project is anticipated to endure for three years.
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Speaking during a consultative meeting with Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA), the governor stated that the Marima-Makutano-Kathwana and Kibugua-Itugururu-Murigi roads were among the 2017 projected projects but added that the Kithaga-Kamanyaki-Kamarandi route was later put in the budget.
Further, he stated that the program will ensure the theree constituencies have acces to the headquaters of the County.
" As a county we have received Sh1.5 billion and we will ensure we complete the project within 3 years," Njuki said.
The governor also revealed a different "Mau Mau road projects" initiative to pave Kibugua-Murigi in order to ensure better access to social facilities.
Njuki also disclosed that Itugururu's county airfield would be operational in two years.
He explained, "We have 800 metres of land, but the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority says an airstrip should consist of 1.5 km, so we need 700 metres extra to finish the project.
According to KeRRA engineer George Rowa, local consultants and technicians would receive training from both KeRRA and representatives of the six counties' governments.
In order to ensure effective fund management and the smooth operation of the building programme, the training will provide business consulting for enterprises.