By Nyang’au Araka
For decades, the 12-kilometre Bondeni-Magombo road has been much more than a stretch of earth and potholes to residents of Nyamira County.
The road, which connects West Mugirango and Kitutu Masaba constituencies, has for years been a source of frustration for motorists, pedestrians, farmers and students who depend on it daily.
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Starting at Bondeni Junction along the Kisii-Chemosit road in West Mugirango and ending at Magombo Market in Kitutu Masaba, the road has featured prominently in local politics over the years, with residents repeatedly being promised that it would be upgraded.
Now, after decades of waiting, the promises appear to be turning into reality.
The Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA) has awarded a tender for the road to be tarmacked, bringing excitement to residents who have endured its difficult conditions for years.
Construction works officially started on Friday, with West Mugirango MP Stephen Mogaka leading the launch.
For residents, the significance of the project goes far beyond the road’s relatively short 12-kilometre distance.
During the rainy season, sections of the road become muddy and, at times, impassable, making journeys difficult for both motorists and pedestrians.
Throughout the year, potholes turn driving into an uphill task, with motorists forced to navigate carefully to avoid damaging their vehicles.
Residents say the road was surveyed as far back as the 1930s during the colonial period, making its long-awaited transformation a matter of considerable significance to the communities it serves.
The road also provides access to several schools and institutions, including Nyakemincha, Kuura, Makairo, Nyachogochogo, Mokomoni, Nyambaria and Gekano high schools.
Because of its poor condition, some motorists and residents have resorted to alternative routes, even when those routes are longer and more expensive.
For them, taking the longer way has often been preferable to losing valuable time on the rough road or risking damage to their vehicles.
That reality could soon become a thing of the past.
Speaking during the start of the works, Mogaka described the project as a game changer for residents who have waited for the road to be improved for decades.
“After decades of suffering, we have a reason to smile because the road tarmacking has started. The contractor has indicated that he is determined to finish the work within the given time,” Mogaka said.
The MP said the project would also create temporary employment opportunities for young people in the area, who will be engaged by the contractor to provide various forms of support during construction.
“I thank our President William Ruto for delivering this promise to our people,” Mogaka said.
Mogaka also took aim at previous governments, accusing the four regimes since independence of repeatedly using the road as a campaign tool before abandoning it after elections.
His argument was that the road had been discussed politically for years without a lasting solution being delivered.
The new project has also raised hopes among farmers, particularly those who depend on the road to transport their produce.
Residents say improved road access will make it easier and faster for farmers to deliver their produce, including tea, to factories and markets, reducing the challenges they have faced when the road is muddy or riddled with potholes.
The Bondeni-Magombo road is among three roads recently awarded to Tosha Contractors for construction.
The other two are the Tombe-Mokomoni road in North Mugirango Constituency and the Riamoni-Nyangori road in Kitutu Masaba Constituency.
For Mogaka, the launch of the road project is also part of what he describes as the benefits of his decision to move from the Jubilee Party, under which he was elected, to the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
He cited other projects in the constituency as evidence of what he says has been achieved through his political realignment.
Mogaka recalled that following the 2007 post-election violence, millions of shillings were donated by the Government of Kuwait to support the construction of several schools in Nyamira County.
However, he claimed that successive governments had failed to facilitate access to some of the projects until President Ruto came into office.
“After the post-election violence in 2007, millions of shillings were donated from the Kuwait government to support the construction of a number of schools in Nyamira County, but past regimes didn’t facilitate access until Ruto came into office. My constituency is among those benefiting from the support,” Mogaka said.
With graders and other construction machinery now moving onto the Bondeni-Magombo route, residents who have lived with dust, mud and potholes for generations are beginning to imagine a different future.
Mogaka, meanwhile, has asked residents to support his bid for re-election, as well as President Ruto’s political ambitions, arguing that continued support will help sustain the development projects he says are benefiting the area.
Other road projects Mogaka is pushing for tarmacking include Kebirigo-Motagara, and Nyamira Stage-Gianchore-Sironga.
