Road construction being undertaken by Ministry of Road's Mechanical Transport Fund (MTF) in Meru county. [File, Standard]
Once inaccessible rural areas in Meru county are now motorable after roll out of Sh531 million road upgrade project undertaken by the Mechanical Transport Fund (MTF) in 45 wards.
Governor Kawira Mwangaza awarded the rural roads upgrade project to MTF, an agency domiciled in the Ministry of Roads and Transport.
Mwangaza made the decision despite demands by a section of Members of County Assembly (MCAs) to award the project to local contractors.
But the governor insisted that MTF was cheaper, efficient and had capacity to deliver the project.
Dubbed ‘Mwangaza Barabarani’ the project is aimed at making rural areas accessible and improving the local economy.
“We decided to partner with the national government to improve roads that have been destroyed by heavy rains because they have the experience of building roads,” she said.
MCAs who supported Mwangaza’s decision included Frida Naitore, Kiambi Ngaruni and Joshua Mithiaru.
MCAs opposed to awarding the contract to MTF argued that it amounted to encouraging ‘capital flight’ and denying the locals income opportunities.
The ward reps established a committee to investigate projects done by MTF in the previous financial years covering 45 wards.
Meru Senator Kathuri Murungi supported MCAs who were opposed Mwangaza's decision saying: “The MTF has no capacity to handle all 45 wards in Meru county in one financial year. The roads of the majority of the wards have not been attended for the last two rainy seasons. Therefore the Meru county residents have not gotten value for money for the Sh51 million that was transferred to MTF."
Minority Leader Mwenda Ithili claimed that under MTF there were persistent delays, inequity, and alleged discrimination in the implementation of road projects including the one funded by conditional grants across the wards.
But Mwangaza said the county government had spent more money on roads done by local contractors in the last financial year.
“Where the contractors spend Sh10 million, MTF is spending Sh2 million. We are not losing anything (by giving projects to MTF), instead, we are gaining,” she said.
More than a year since the launch of the project, residents in various wards are now able to transport their farm produce to markets.
"Our roads were in a terrible state and accessing dispensaries and markets during the rainy season was difficult, but I am now happy because the roads have been graded," said Jennifer Nkatha, a Naathu resident.
Roads to schools, markets, farms and amenities have been improved easing transport.
"With the MTF setting high for road construction, we urge contractors to meet or exceed those expectations," Mwangaza said, when she chaired a meeting to deliberate on road work plan for 2024-2025 financial year.