About This Pillar
Umande Ward: The Marua-Isiolo Dual Carriageway (a national project) is the major artery, but the feeder roads connecting farmers to this highway are often neglected or stalled during the rainy season. Ngobit Ward: A “forgotten” zone for bitumen. The Nanyuki-Doldol road and secondary links connecting Ngobit to the main highways face perennial abandonment by contractors due to “payment friction” and high mobilization costs. Tigithi Ward: The Iriuko-Thome links and roads around the Matanya area often sit in a cycle of “grade-and-wash-away.” Stalled drainage works have led to several roads becoming seasonal rivers. Thingithu Ward: Being peri-urban, the issue here is encroachment and drainage. Stalled “Smart Town” projects in the Nanyuki outskirts have left many residential access roads as “black cotton soil” traps. The 2027 “WaSammy” Road Action Plan 1. The “Bitumen Gap” Strategy (Ngobit & Umande) The Problem: Rural roads are graded every year but last only one season. 2027 Action: Transition from “Grading” to Low-Volume Seal (LVS) technology for key agricultural arteries. LVS is cheaper than full tarmac but provides a permanent all- weather surface for milk and produce transport. 2. The “Leasing 2.0” Model (Tigithi & Thingithu) The Problem: Waiting for private contractors leads to stalled projects when they aren’t paid on time. 2027 Action: Revitalize the County Equipment Leasing Program. Instead of “tendering out” every small bridge or culvert, use a county-owned, ward-based fleet to ensure maintenance happens before the rains start. 3. Drainage First, Road Second (Thingithu) The Problem: Roads in Thingithu fail because water has nowhere to go. 2027 Action: A mandatory “Drainage and Culvert First” policy. No road grading will be commissioned without a permanent concrete drainage plan to ensure longevity. 4. The “Last Mile” Farm-to-Market (All Wards) The Problem: The main highways are great, but the 2km from the farm to the highway is a swamp. 2027 Action: Establish a Ward Infrastructure Fund specifically for “Last Mile” culverts and drifts, ensuring that even in the heaviest rains, a 2WD or tractor can reach every farm and village.