Locals Agree to Move as KENHA Addresses Road Reserve Encroachment in Lari

The Kenya National Highway Authority has expressed concern over the encroachment of road reserves in Kiambu county. However, residents have consented to relocate, making way for road construction projects. KENHA reported that numerous individuals occupying these lands have established kiosks, shops, green groceries, while others have constructed fences. During multiple public participation sessions across various centers in Lari constituency, the authority informed locals that several roads have been approved for tarmacking. Authority officials further explained to residents that all road reserves are government gazetted roads and must be respected, leaving them available for their intended purpose. Eng Maxwell Kamwana from Kenha addressed participants at Lari constituency during a public participation event. At one public participation session held in the Nyambari area of Lari constituency on Friday, Eng Maxwell Kamwana from KENHA disclosed that their surveyors had discovered beacons they had placed had been removed. The Nyambari public participation focused on the Nyambari, Uplands Githunguri Ruiru road (B115), construction of which is scheduled to commence soon. He stated, “Some individuals have constructed fences, kiosks, and other structures on these reserves. We must respect government lands and leave them undisturbed. Those already settled on these areas should relocate.” Eng Kamwana also expressed dismay that some people had been removing beacons after KENHA installed them, emphasizing the illegality of such actions. The Kenha official further revealed that the government had reclassified the (B115) road, upgrading it from class C to B. The public participation event was attended by the area member of parliament Mburu Kahangara, deputy county commissioner Samuel Kariuki, KENHA senior officials, Shengli Company (the contractor), and other community leaders. A resident Stephen Waweru, commonly known as “Western,” highlighted the positive impact the road would have on the predominantly dairy and horticultural farming community. He mentioned that locals cultivate and sell vegetables like kales, cabbages, spinach, carrots, and engage in dairy farming. “Our community members work diligently to earn a living through vegetable cultivation that they sell daily. Milk is also sold daily, but our farmers have been hampered by poor road infrastructure,” he said. Waweru expressed gratitude to President William Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza government for recognizing the road’s economic importance, noting that local farmers and traders would benefit. A trader Simon Njonge from Uplands trading center confirmed they had agreed to move as the road would enhance their business operations. “We cannot oppose development. We have been advocating for tarmac roads in our region. The process has now begun. We will assist KENHA and the government in encouraging our community members to remove structures to facilitate development,” Njonge stated. The area MP emphasized that the road would improve transportation and open up opportunities for business in the region. Kahangara also mentioned that KENHA had conducted a similar public participation at Nyanduma ward within the constituency to raise awareness about a 4.1km road extending from Kagwe town to Mung’ere. “We are pleased as we have previously felt overlooked in development initiatives. Once these roads are completed, transportation and commerce in our constituency will improve significantly,” Kahangara noted. Kahangara also requested the contractor to provide casual employment opportunities to local unemployed youth and skilled positions to qualified individuals.