Construction of US $36m Juja Farm road project in Kiambu County, Kenya has kicked off. Elated residents, led by Kalimoni Ward MCA Godffrey Mucheke, turned up to witness the contractor, H.Young Construction Company, start the works.

The 31-kilometre road project stretches to Athi villages in Juja constituency Kiambu County. It will also link the remote areas of Juja sub-county to Juja town and the Thika superhighway as well as the Thika-Garissa Highway through Gatuanyaga in Thika sub-county.

The road is being funded by the National Government through the Kenya Rural Roads Authority (Kerra) and is expected to be completed by June next year. Other roads being constructed in the Sub County are the extension of the Kenyatta road and the tarmacking of the Bob Harris road.

Poor road network

The project follows years of lobbying by locals. The residents have for years complained of poor road network in the area. The road has been in a deplorable state for decades inconveniencing thousands of residents residing in the area.

Mr Mucheke noted that the road will open up the vast remote areas of Juja constituency predicting that most investors who had purchased land in the region will now develop their parcels leading to massive growth of the region’s economy.

“Many land buyers have been waiting for the road to be constructed and with this new development, we expect them to move in and develop their lands. Some will settle as residents while others will put up industries. The population will significantly grow and so will the economy,” said Mucheke.

“Our farmers especially in Juja Farm and Athi who usually sustain the Juja and Witeithie markets will easily transport their farm produce to the markets. We are grateful for this development,” the MCA added.