Help fix our roads and we could feed the nation, Githunguri farmers plead

By ERIC WAINAINA

KENYA: It is an economically endowed sub-county, one that could be among the leading producers of agricultural produce.

Githunguri in Kiambu County produces milk, tea, coffee and horticulture products. Often, it has attracted dignitaries and ordinary folks from within and without the country willing to learn from its advanced economic activities.

The number of banks and microfinance institutions that have pitched tent in the area is testimony to the huge commercial activity in the region.

But the irony is that the infrastructure in this area and neighbouring Lari District is a nightmare, especially when it rains. The status of main and feeder roads in the entire district betrays enthusiasm of the local dairy, tea coffee and horticultural farmers, who highly depend on road transport for their businesses to keep going.

Interestingly, not long ago, the district had good roads that were the envy of other counties. The late Arthur Magugu, the then area MP, who served as the Minister for Finance in former President Daniel Moi’s government, oversaw numerous development in the area.

Repair and maintain

But soon after illness took away his enthusiasm in 2004, nature began “eating” what he had put in place. The tarmac began to wear out and today both main and feeder roads are characterised by potholes that render them impassible, especially during the rainy season.

Charles Mukora, the chairman at Githunguri Dairies, the maker of Fresha milk products, says on monthly basis, they are forced to spend a lot of money to repair and maintain vehicles due to the roads poor condition.

The poor roads, he says, affect their milk collection from farmers and delivery on the society, which has a turnover of more than Sh5 billion.

“We are spending tens of millions of shillings to repair our vehicles. At times when it rains, we are unable to get milk from our farmers. At such times we ask them to walk to certain collection points, and this consumes time and our products arrive in the market later that usual,” he says.

The society uses lorries to fetch 230,000 litres of milk from its 19,000 members in the district and Lari sub-county everyday, and also ferry the processed to the market.

The two main roads in the district, Uplands-Githunguri-Ruiru road and Githunguri-Kiambu road, are in deplorable condition.

Coffee farmers registered at Kambaa Tea Factory situated along Uplands-Githunguri have been paying cash that is used for rehabilitation, but with its condition, little is achieved.

Last year, area MP Njoroge Baiya raised the matter in Parliament, lamenting that the contractor awarded the contract to rehabilitate the roads had abandoned the site after excavation works, making the road un-motorable.

Several accidents

“If it rains, the road is rendered impassable; we have raised the matter, but even until today, we are seeing no hope. Most matatu owners have had to take their vehicles to other routes often due to engine and metal bar breakdowns,” said Joseph Njaramba, a matatu owner.

Githunguri-Kiambu Road status has caused several accidents, as motorists try to navigate the large potholes. It is currently undergoing minor rehabilitation. “The district is contributing huge revenue but all our roads are in poor condition this is too bad,” Mr Mukora said.

Bernard Ndungu, a milk farmer from Kambaa Village in Lari says dairy farmers are continually charged the cost of repairing collection trucks, which break down often.

“The roads, especially in the interior areas, are pathetic. The trucks that collects our milk in the morning and evenings break down while on transit and the society charges us the repair fee. Still, we are forced to hire private means, which is expensive, to ensure our milk is delivered,” says Mr Ndungu.

Joyce Wanjiku is a vegetable farmer at Nyamweru village. She says her vegetables have on several occasions failed to get to the delivery point in Nairobi on time.

Githunguri-Kagwe Road, which was initially a tarmacked, is also almost impassible due to the poor status.  The road also hosts a tea factory and a number of financial institutions, but during the rainy season, the road is un-motorable.

In his manifesto, Governor William Kabogo acknowledged the poor status of the roads and promised to address it.

However, he said, some main roads are under his docket, and said delayed rehabilitation was one of the major reasons they were demanding the national government to surrender the entire roads docket to the county government.