Construction of the 154-kilometre Mau Mau Road Lot 2 has entered another phase, with work on a 38-kilometre section progressing towards the final stages of upgrading.
The road, which connects parts of Murang’a and Nyeri counties, is being upgraded to heavy-duty bitumen standards by the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA).
Interior and National Administration Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo said on Tuesday, August 11, that sections of the road had reached the top upgrade layer, signalling progress towards the next stages of construction.
According to Omollo, works on sections covering Ichichi, Kiruri, Wanjerere and Mioro have reached the top upgrade layer.
The contractor will now proceed with a cement-stabilised gravel sub-base, followed by graded crushed stone before the road receives its final Asphalt Concrete (AC) surface.
“The Mau Mau Road Lot 2 project is transforming the historic liberation routes once used by Mau Mau freedom fighters into modern roads that now liberate communities from decades of transport challenges,” Omollo said.
Road links Murang’a and Nyeri communities
The Mau Mau Road begins at Mairi near the Kiambu-Murang’a border and passes through Kinyona, Karinga, Mununga, Ichichi, Thuthu, Wanjerere, Kagongo, Mioro and Kiamuturi before terminating at Kairo near the Nyeri County border.
The project also incorporates the Kinyona-Gatare-Njabini road, creating an important link between Murang’a and Nyandarua counties.
The route traverses the Aberdare foothills, an area characterised by steep terrain and significant rainfall. As a result, drainage infrastructure forms a key part of the project.
The works include reinforced box culverts, pipe culverts and engineered roadside drainage systems designed to manage stormwater and reduce the effects of flooding and erosion.
Boost for tea farmers and transporters
Beyond improving road connectivity, the project is expected to make movement easier for farmers and other businesses operating along the corridor.
The road passes through several tea-growing areas, including zones served by Mununga and Ikumbi KTDA factories.
Omollo said the upgraded road would improve access for farmers and transporters travelling towards the Thika-Kenol-Marua Highway and other major routes in the region.
Better road infrastructure could also reduce transport difficulties for communities that have relied on the historic routes for movement of agricultural produce and access to markets.
Project incorporates safety measures
Construction teams are also implementing measures aimed at addressing challenges associated with the area’s terrain, including flooding, landslides and soil erosion.
The State Department for Internal Security and National Administration is working with infrastructure agencies on road safety and security measures along the corridor.
Omollo said the government was also promoting road safety awareness to ensure the road remains safe and accessible to residents, motorists and other road users once sections are completed.
The Mau Mau Road project carries historical significance because it traverses areas associated with Kenya’s struggle for independence.
However, the latest update did not provide a new completion date for the entire 154-kilometre project or state the overall percentage of construction completed.
For residents of Murang’a, Nyeri and neighbouring counties, the continued progress offers the prospect of improved connectivity, easier movement of agricultural produce and better access to major transport corridors once the project is fully completed.
