Family graves affecting road construction

By BONIFACE GIKANDI

MURANG’A COUNTY: Family graveyards, houses and rough terrain are among the factors delaying the construction of a major road cutting across three constituencies in Murang’a County. Senior officials from Kenya Roads Board (KRB) heard that 41 graves littered the 35km-stretch of Kangema-Gacharage road.

The road cuts across Kiharu, Kigumo and Kandara constituencies and was initiated by former Cabinet minister the late John Michuki who said there was need to facilitate transport that would revamp rural economy targeting rural-based trading centres.

The contractor, SS Mehta and Sons, said the Government must speed up the release of the outstanding Sh831.4 million to facilitate completion of the road out of the budgeted Sh1.2 billion saying they have only done 27.1 per cent of the project.

KRB members and senior managers led by Joel Wanyoike and Chief Executive Officer Jacob Ruwua toured the projects saying they are committed to ensuring Kenyans get quality roads.

He said the directors were in Central and Eastern provinces to supervise the ongoing projects to ensure contractors are working as stipulated in their contracts with the Government.

During the inspection, the board found water pipes and electric poles lying along the section.

Fielding questions from the press Wanyoike said the affected relatives were awaiting compensation from the Government to relocate the graveyards from the road corridor.

“Officials from Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) and the National Lands Commission are working to facilitate compensation for the relatives to relocate the graves, structures and water pipes and electricity poles to enable the project proceed,” said Wanyoike.