Meru residents protest poor state of key road

Residents and boda boda riders of Egoji, Imenti South Sub-County blocked the Meru-Nairobi highway for more than four hours protesting the poor state of the Igoji-Mworoga-Nkachi road.

The residents, most of whom were youths, blocked the busy road by lighting bonfires before marching from Mworoga to Egoji where the area Member of County Assembly’s office is situated, accusing him and the county government of hindering development.

They complained about a 19-kilometer stretch that they claimed was giving the drivers and boda boda operators a hard time especially during the rainy season, forcing them to them to double their prices.

Francis Nkonge, a resident, said that the road becomes impassable whenever it rains yet it was allocated Sh1.9 million in the last financial year.

“This year the road was allocated Sh1 million yet another road in the area which is 9 km was allocated Sh3 million,” Nkonge noted.

He urged the Imenti South Member of Parliament Kathure Murungi to consider repairing the road through the Kenya Rural Roads Authority since it is under the national government.

Fridah Riungu, another a resident, urged area leaders to be accountable to the electorate or risk losing their seats in the next election.

They further urged the Meru County Government to intervene and help upgrade the road.