154km Mau Mau road project nears key milestone in Murang’a and Nyeri

The 154-kilometre Mau Mau Road Lot 2 project, connecting parts of Murang'a and Nyeri counties, has reached a significant milestone, with 38 kilometres of the road now upgraded to heavy-duty bitumen standards. This transformation, overseen by Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA), turns historic liberation routes used by Mau Mau freedom fighters into modern highways, liberating communities from years of transport difficulties.

The road begins at Mairi near the Kiambu-Murang'a border and traverses through Kinyona, Karinga, Mununga, Ichichi, Thuthu, Wanjerere, Kagongo, Mioro, and Kiamuturi, before reaching Kairo on Nyeri County's border. Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo announced on Facebook that construction on sections linking Ichichi, Kiruri, Wanjerere, and Mioro has reached the top upgrade layer, signaling progress to the next stages.

The project also involves the Kinyona-Gatare-Njabini road, a link between Murang'a and Nyandarua counties. To accommodate the Aberdare foothills' terrain and rainfall, drainage structures such as reinforced box culverts, pipe culverts, and engineered roadside drainage systems have been integrated. The road passes through several tea-growing regions and aims to connect farmers and transporters to the Thika-Kenol-Marua Highway and other regional routes.

Construction efforts have also addressed flooding, landslides, and erosion concerns along the route. The State Department for Internal Security is collaborating with infrastructure agencies to promote road safety and security measures along the corridor. Omollo emphasized that the Mau Mau Road project, running through historically significant areas, is being implemented in sections across Murang'a and Nyeri, but did not provide a revised completion date or overall project completion percentage.