Two dual highways to be built as Uhuru seeks to calm central Kenya leaders
President Uhuru Kenyatta with Deputy President William Ruto and Devolution CS Mwangi Kiunjuri arrive at the Sagana State Lodge in Nyeri on February 10, 2016. PHOTO | JOSEPH KANYI | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- The highway had been planned to go through Kirinyaga County, but the road was diverted after lobbying to President Uhuru Kenyatta by among others Murang’a Senator Kembi Gitura.
- Transport CS James Macharia said the government will construct two roads, cutting through both regions and converge in Isiolo. This is designed to appease both sides.
Two dual carriageways will now be built to appease leaders in central Kenya.
This follows an uproar by leaders over which counties the road the government had earlier planned to construct would traverse.
The highway had been planned to go through Kirinyaga County, but the road was diverted after lobbying of President Uhuru Kenyatta by Murang’a Senator Kembi Gitura, among others.
This angered leaders from Kirinyaga, Meru and Embu counties who threatened to withdraw their support for Jubilee if the road went through Murang’a.
BOTH REGIONS
And in a statement on Monday, Transport CS James Macharia said the government would construct two roads, cutting through both regions and converge in Isiolo. This is designed to appease both sides.
One road will run from Kenol, through Murang’a, Sagana, Marua and Nanyuki to Isiolo while the other will pass through Makutano from Kenol, through Mwea, Embu, Meru and end up in Isiolo.
On Wednesday, Murang’a leaders told off Kirinyaga and Embu leaders for threats to President Kenyatta over the construction of the road from Kenol to Nyeri via Murang’a town.
