Mwangaza's Sh531 million roads project opens up rural areas

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.