Construction works on Gatuanyaga Ring Road in Thika, Kiambu County is set to delay over alleged inability to navigate the terrain, which is riddled with waste water and poor drainage. Interways Works Limited, the company assigned the construction task confirmed the report and said that poor drainage lines and human waste disposal systems posed difficulty to the ongoing construction.
In addition, said heavy rainfall pounding the area have made it impossible to continue with construction works as most parts of the road are flooded. The road has been impassable for vehicles, with residents forced to rely on motorbike for transportation to and from the remote villages of Githima and Kang’oki. The project had earlier been scheduled for launch in 30 months, from November 2020.
“Construction works can only resume after rainfall subsides. The type of soil in Thika cannot allow for road-building to continue under wet circumstances,” said the company.
Gatuanyaga Ring Road
The road will stretch from Muguka-Ngurai-Munyu-Githima-Kang’oki-Kisii and back to the Thika-Garissa highway, and will help ease traffic in the busy road. It will be a Class B road, 6.5 metres wide with provision for pedestrian walkways and a lane for cyclists, able to withstand heavy trucks that ferry building stones from local quarries.
Overall cost of the project is Sh 1bn. Street lights will be erected to enhance security, and 30% of jobs will be given to locals. Upon completion, it will be the first tarmac road in Thika East Sub County. Works limited will also be involved in Sh700million maintenance of Thika town CBD roads.
