An additional 40km will have been tarmacked by December.
By June next year, 70 per cent of the work will have been completed.
The Kenya National Highways Authority has tarmacked 10km of the 153km stretch it is constructing in Murang’a as part of the 540km Mau Mau roads project.
KeNHA chairperson Wangai Ndirangu on Wednesday said the progress, including tarmacking, represents 13 per cent of the works to be completed in the county. An additional 40km will have been tarmacked by December. By June next year, 70 per cent of the work will have been completed.
Waangai spoke while on a routine inspection of the roads. He, however, noted that with the hilly terrain, the contractor has done most of the earthworks and most of the remaining part only awaits the application of bitumen.
Wangai said the project is ahead of time. It was projected to be completed in 2023 but could now be completed next year.
The Mau Mau roads project starts from Kiambu and ends in Nyeri via Murang’a and Nyandarua, with the stretch in each county having a contractor.
The Sh30 billion project will see 540km of the roads tarmacked. The roads were used by Independence freedom fighters in and out of the Aberdare forest.
Wangai said the government is doing the project in honour of the freedom fighters and the sacrifice they made for the country. It will open up the region for farming and trade by easing transport.
The four counties are rich agriculturally, with many farming activities hampered by a poor roads network.
Once completed, the project is expected to boost the economy of the region and residents’ earnings.
“We are doing the spur roads because the main road would have less significance if it cannot draw in and out of the areas it passes through. We want people to quickly get their produce from their farms and get them to market,” Wangai said.
“By April next year, the main spine road which is about 34km and some of the spur roads will be done. This means by April, people will be able to use the road from Kiambu to Nyeri.”
He expressed confidence that the project will not be derailed by rains as the earthworks have been completed.
The contractor focused on the earthworks during the dry season as it is difficult to handle soil when it is wet and heavy.
He said tarmacking can be done comfortably even during the rainy season, adding that they are monitoring the drainage works to ensure the works are not ruined.
Wangai further sought to assure Kenyans that the project will be of high quality and serve for many years.
“Kenha’s work speaks for itself. We are well known for the attention we give to quality. In every project, we have deployed competent professionals and mounted quality infrastructure to test soil and bitumen,” he said.
One side of the Kenol-Sagana-Marua dual carriageway will be completed by December. This includes about 22km of the 48km from Kenol to Sagana. In the second phase from Sagana to Marua, 10km of 36km have been tarmacked.
Works on the second phase have dragged because of compensation issues as the road reserve was only 40 metres, yet 60m were needed for a dual carriageway expansion.
Compensation is now underway and between 30 and 35km will have been tarmacked on one side by December.
KeNHA director general Kung’u Ndung’u lauded landowners for giving the authority early access before the compensation process is completed.
Kung’u further lauded motorists for observing safety measures, saying no major incident was reported as people went for Madaraka Day celebrations in Kirinyaga.
Kung’u said more than 1,000km of roads are under maintenance and many others are under construction in Central.
He said the Mau Mau road network that passes at the edge of the Aberdare forest exposes scenic views that will attract tourists.
“There are also historic sites such as where Dedan Kimathi was captured and we are working with the National Museums of Kenya to come up with museums in memory of freedom fighters to further boost tourism,” he said.
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