Deputy President Kithure Kindiki during an event in Meru/DPCSDeputy President Kithure Kindiki has announced a Sh39 billion road construction programme in Meru County as the Government moves to improve rural connectivity, reduce transport costs and boost farmers’ access to markets.
Kindiki said several roads that residents had pursued for years were now under construction or at various stages of implementation.
Among them is the Kionyo-Kanyakine-Muti O’Kiama-Ketha Kanaro-Mitunguu road, which he said had received government funding.
Speaking at Kanyakine in Imenti South, the Deputy President expressed confidence that the contractor handling the project would deliver.
“We have sought this road for a very long time. I have seen that it is progressing well, it has started well, it is progressing well, and we have a good contractor. This contractor will deliver. This one will deliver,” he said.
Kindiki said the Government would address Meru’s infrastructure needs progressively, depending on the resources available.
“We will do all the roads one at a time, step by step. Rome was not built in a day,” he said.
He announced that 17 kilometres of roads in Meru town would also be upgraded at a cost of Sh3.7 billion. According to him, funding had been secured, and a contractor was already in place.
The government is also implementing 21 market projects in the county, including the Gakoromoni market, alongside investments in water and sewerage infrastructure.
Kindiki linked the road projects to efforts to improve household incomes, saying better roads would make it easier for farmers to transport their produce to markets and access essential services.
The announcements come as farmers receive relief on the cost of agricultural inputs.
A 50-kilogramme bag of subsidised fertiliser is now available at Sh2,000, down from Sh7,000 in 2022.
The price of certified maize seed has also been reduced by half, with a kilogramme now retailing at Sh150, down from Sh300.
A two-kilogramme pack costs Sh300, while 10kg and 25kg packs cost Sh1,500 and Sh3,750 respectively.
The government has said the seed subsidy targets about 40 million kilogrammes and represents an estimated Sh6 billion investment aimed at boosting farmers’ incomes.
Kindiki also cited electricity connections, the recruitment of teachers and Community Health Promoters, construction of classrooms and laboratories, expansion of technical education and increased access to healthcare through the Social Health Authority among the government’s interventions in Meru.
He urged leaders to focus on projects with lasting economic and social benefits rather than short-term political gains.
“Development is for generations. This road is not for UDA. This road is not for us who are here. After 100 years, this road will still be serving the people of this area, our children and our grandchildren,” he said.
The DP said development also depended on cooperation between leaders and citizens, whom he credited with pushing authorities to deliver projects.
“There is no leader who can bring development alone. He is assisted by his seniors, he is assisted by his juniors, he is assisted by the citizens,” Kindiki said.
