Residents of Kienderu and Kaithe have protested delays in construction of the 6 kilometre Kaaga-Kienderu-Kaithe bypass which has stalled for more than four years.
The road which is part of the Sh3 billion Meru town bypass roads project was abandoned by the contractor, over lack of funds.
The contract was awarded in 2019 and the road is expected to link Meru town to Meru-Maua and Meru-Isiolo roads easing traffic on the Makutano section.
Residents say the road is now a thorn in their flesh as it has not been maintained since the contractor left the site.
Mr Lewis Kithinji said the contractor was not ready to repair the damaged sections of the road leaving residents in suffering.
“The bypass is a major commercial road as it was to also give Munithu farmlands access to the market. We wanted to repair sections of the road as a community but we were warned against it. The area MP said no maintenance can be done because of the contract,” Mr Kithinji lamented.
Ms Janet Kawira said banana farmers from Munithu were making losses due to poor state of the road.
Mr Munyao Mulwa, a resident, said resources have been diverted severally leaving the road unattended.
“The contractor who was awarded this road is building other roads in Meru town. Kaaga-Kienderu-Kaithe was to be built in the first phase but we were shortchanged. We will be forced to go to the streets to demand our rights,” Mr Mulwa said.
According to Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) which is in charge of the project, the construction stalled due to funding constraints.
Recently, Meru MPs met Roads Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen to follow up on various stalled roads in the county.
