Tharaka-Nithi residents block Meru-Nairobi highway over poor state of feeder road
What you need to know:
- Tharaka-Nithi County Commissioner Florence Amoit said no one has the right to close a road.
- She asked the locals to use their leaders in addressing their issues but not taking the law into their own hands.
- Mr Gitonga said Sh6 million has been set aside to gravel the road and once the procurement process was complete, the contractor would start the work.
Transport along the Meru-Nairobi highway was paralysed for hours Wednesday after residents of Ndagani in Tharaka-Nithi County blocked it to protest over what they said was the poor state of the Njaina feeder road.
The protesters felled trees and burnt tyres on the road demanding to be addressed by Governor Samuel Ragwa whom they accused of neglecting them.
Police had to use teargas to disperse the villagers who threatened to paralyse activities on the highway until the feeder road was improved.
Speaking to Nation by phone, Tharaka-Nithi County Commissioner Florence Amoit said no one has the right to close a road.
She asked the locals to use their leaders in addressing their issues but not taking the law into their own hands.
“We will not allow anyone to interfere with activities on the busy road,” said Ms Amoit.
A resident, Mr John Gitonga, claimed that money had been set aside for the rehabilitation of the feeder road for the last two years but no work had been done.
“Some Sh2 million had been set aside to improve this road but nothing has ever been done,” said Mr Gitonga.
He accused Mr Ragwa of neglecting Chuka/Igambang'ombe Constituency after its MP Muthomi Njuki declared interest in contesting for the gubernatorial seat in 2017.
“The governor has bad blood with Chuka/Igambang'ombe because of our MP’s interest in competing against him in 2017,” he said.
Addressing journalists, the county Roads executive Basilio Gitonga accused politicians of inciting the residents to close roads.
“The protest is politically motivated because the governor had toured the area on Tuesday and promised locals that the road would soon be improved,” said Mr Basilio.
He said Sh6 million has been set aside to gravel the road and once the procurement process was complete, the contractor would start the work.
