The Sad State of Roads in Nyandarua County

The condition of roads in Nyandarua is worsening every passing day. Residents are suffering huge losses due to failure to deliver farm produce to markets, especially during the rains.

Others are forced to use donkeys and makeshift stretchers to carry sick people and bodies of those who do not make it to the hospital since cars and motorcycles cannot reach the villages.

And now, a section of Nyandarua residents have a bigger transport problem. The collapse of Thitai Bridge between Kariamu and Ol-Kalou town on the busy Njabini-Ol-Kalou road has caused a logistical nightmare by cutting off the movement of people and goods between the southern and northern parts of the county.

It all started in April when a section of the Chinese-built bridge collapsed after heavy rain. As residents waited for the authorities to fix the connection, another downpour pounded the area, washing away the entire bridge – sparking a huge outcry among residents.

“It has been several weeks. We have protested and nothing has happened. At a time when major roads are being built in other parts of Kenya, it is sad to see a main road like this one being neglected,” said Mwangi Nduati, who is unable to transport his cabbages.

The residents say that their pleas to the county government have yielded no fruit, with officials asking them to direct their concerns to the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA), which is mandated to manage, develop, and maintain the motorway.

“How can we talk to KeNHA? We did not vote for KeNHA,” Mr Nduati lamented, adding that the area residents will stage demonstrations in the coming days if the issue is not addressed.

KeNHA, which did not comment on this story, has reportedly pointed fingers at the Chinese contractor over what it believes to be poor workmanship.

However, the company has absolved itself of blame saying that all stages of work were approved by KeNHA, which later issued a certificate of completion.

The Njabini-Ol-Kalou road, which was built during President Mwai Kibaki’s era, has been credited with opening up the county for tourism and horticulture investments.

However, the interiors of the county are still grappling with deplorable conditions of roads even as the county government promises to fix the crumbling infrastructure.

Here are some of the images from the county:

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