BY STEPHEN KILONZI
The National Government has approved a Sh3.2 billion road project to upgrade the 45-kilometer Gikuyari-Karambari-Kirie-Mugwanjogu-Karerema-Ishiara stretch to bitumen standard, in a landmark decision set to reshape Mbeere North Constituency.
The long-overdue development will link the three wards of Muminji, Nthawa, and Evurore in Embu County, improving access to neighboring Meru and Kitui counties and potentially transforming the region’s economic fortunes.
The announcement, made by former area MP Geoffrey Ruku—now Cabinet Secretary for Public Service, Human Capital Development and Special Programmes—on social media, has sparked widespread optimism.
Residents and local leaders describe the decision as historic, especially for Muminji Ward, which has lacked tarmacked roads since independence.
“This is more than just a road—it’s dignity, opportunity, and safety,” said local leader Joab Konji, referencing past tragedies and economic struggles caused by the poor state of the road.
In one such incident, 11 elderly passengers perished when their bus plunged into a flooded Thura River, a tragedy residents blame on failed infrastructure.
Farmers in the region, particularly those cultivating muguka, the primary cash crop, have suffered high transport costs that eat into profits.
Youths reliant on the boda boda sector report frequent breakdowns and accidents, underlining the road’s importance for livelihoods.
Construction is slated to begin by year’s end, signaling long-awaited relief for a community that has, for decades, faced isolation and underdevelopment. For Mbeere North, the road is more than a project—it’s a long-promised lifeline.
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