Residents of Nyandarua Protest Over Shoddy Road Repairs

 

By Lucky Sidney Mulerah

 Tensions flared in Tumaini Ward, Olkalou Constituency, as residents of Booster Uhuru village staged a protest over what they termed as poor workmanship in the repair of a key road used for transporting agricultural produce.

The two-kilometre stretch, recently rehabilitated under the supervision of a contractor hired by the Nyandarua County Government, has sparked public outcry due to substandard repair materials and inadequate construction methods. Protesters marched along the damaged road, urging county officials to intervene and compel the contractor to redo the work.

"This is not what we expected. The contractor used soft machine-cut stones instead of the proper hard stones. This road won't last a single rainy season," lamented one of the residents during the demonstration.

Booster Uhuru village is an agricultural hub known for dairy farming and horticulture, supplying produce to markets across the region. Locals say the poor road condition is not only hindering transportation but also driving up the cost of production.

“Trucks get stuck, and we have to hire laborers to carry our milk and vegetables to the main road. This is wasting time and money,” said Mary Wanjiku, a local farmer.

Residents are now calling on the county government to prioritize quality assurance in infrastructure projects and to take decisive action against contractors who fail to meet standards.

“This is taxpayers’ money. We demand accountability,” another protester added.

Attempts to get a response from the contractor were unsuccessful by press time. Meanwhile, county officials have yet to issue a formal statement on the matter.

The protest underscores the growing frustration among rural communities in Nyandarua over poor infrastructure, particularly in areas that depend heavily on agriculture for their livelihoods.