Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) has resumed plans for the Sh30 billion Mau Mau Road project.
The critical project had been suspended due to three government agencies; Kenya Wildlife Service, NEMA and Kenya Forest Service failed to approve the project.
KeNHA issued a tender for the construction of the Murang’a section of the road, covering 31 kilometers, which will span Murang’a, Kiambu, Nyeri, and Nyandarua counties.
The road will be built using proceeds from the road levy charged on fuel.
The project is expected to unlock the economy of the area by boosting goods transportation, especially agricultural produce such as coffee and tea, which are grown in the region.
KeNHA said the road, which follows the route Mau Mau veterans used to fight for independence, will promote social welfare, economic activities, and agricultural production.
A section of leaders from counties where the road traverses had lobbied President Ruto to intervene to expedite the construction of the road, which they said would open up the economies of the region.
Disrupting the Aberdares Ecosystem?
The Mau Mau roads project was cancelled last year after President William Ruto took office, following the National Environment Management Authority’s failure to approve an environmental and social impact assessment (ESIA) report.
The Kenya Forest Service (KFS) and the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) said construction of the road cutting across Aberdare Forest would interfere with the local ecosystem.
The impasse ended after Nema in April approved the ESIA for the project, allowing KeNHA to proceed with the tendering process.
