Kathwana And Marimanti Towns Receive A Major Facelift, Traders Express Joy
Some of the stakeholders
By Mwenda Njeru
The ongoing improvement of infrastructure in Kathwana and Marimanti towns in Tharaka Nithi County will greatly improve living conditions and strengthen security.
Through the Second Kenya Informal Settlement Improvement Project (KISIP), roads in the towns are being tarmacked, residents are being provided with clean and reliable water supply and high mast flood lights have been installed to improve security.
Through the project that is being implemented by the county government, there is ongoing construction of modern sanitation facilities.
Speaking during an inspection tour of the projects in the two towns, officials from World Bank, National Government and County Government led by county executive member for Roads, Infrastructure, Public Works, and Urban Development, Giti Kijiru and the department’s Chief Officer Faith Kalunda, lauded the ongoing works.
Also present was Tharaka Nithi County Secretary, Mr Alex Muratha, Finance and Economic Planning executive, Mr Lawrence Rweria and Water Chief Officer Loise Mutua.
Economic growth
Mr Giti said the projects will greatly support economic growth and quality of life in the two fast growing towns in Chuka/Igambang’ombe and Tharaka constituencies.
The officials said the work is scheduled to take only one year and lauded residents of the two towns for cooperating and owning the project.
“The projects are progressing very well in the two towns and residents have embraced and owned them which is very important and encouraging. The few people who had encroached on the road reserve removed their temporal structures voluntarily,” said Mr Giti.
Ms Karegi Kiura, a community leader and a stakeholder in Marimanti town said tarmacking of the streets will change the face of the town and attract investors.
She said the road opens areas that were impenetrable, boosting accessibility to businesses even during the rainy season and also promoting the land price.
While lauding Governor Muthomi Njuki, Ms Kiura added that with completion of the modern sanitation facility and provision of clean and reliable drinking water, cases of outbreak of waterborne diseases will be a thing of the past.
“This project is going to change Marimanti into a modern town. The flood lights have already turned this town into a 24-hour economy because of the assured security,” said Ms Kiura.
Keep off politics
Mr James Mutegi, another trader, asked politicians to keep off politics in Marimanti open-air market contract so that the work can start.
“We know some politicians blocked construction of Marimanti town modern market for political reasons but we are the people who are suffering,” said Mr Mutegi.
Mr Patrick Kimathi, an investor and stakeholder in Kathwana town said the once dusty town has grown into a modern municipality with modern infrastructure.
He said apart from the projects under KISIP, Governor Njuki has also brought other great infrastructural changes including provision of clean water, construction of social hall, governor’s residence and office and open-air market.
“We are urging the national government to ensure completion of the executive office building so that workers can work comfortably for better service delivery,” said Mr Kimathi.
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