By Maroa Enock – PCO Kiambu County

On a calm Saturday morning, as mist still clung to the hills of Misri Informal Settlement in Limuru Municipality, the steady rumble of a paver, the hiss of a compressor, and trucks ferrying hot bitumen broke the usual silence. Curious residents stepped out of their homes, children gathered along the roadside, and boda boda riders slowed their engines to watch. After years of dust, mud, and impassable paths, the message was obvious: something good was finally happening. The tarmacking of Misri roads.

The road machine sound signals marked the end of decades of struggle with steep, muddy, and impassable access routes, especially during the rainy season. Children curiously walked along the newly laid black surface, amazed by a dust-free and mud-free road, a clear sign of changing realities in the settlement.

Heavy machinery working on the Misri Roads in Limuru Municipality

The road is already easing the movement of people, goods, and services, and is expected to stimulate economic growth by lowering transport costs, improving access to markets, and enhancing connectivity within the area. Local traders anticipate increased customer traffic, while residents foresee improved access to schools, health facilities, and essential services.

“I have lived in Misri for the last 52 years, and life has truly changed,” narrated Kamau Mwangi. “We used to struggle with muddy, slippery roads, and reaching Limuru was a real struggle. Today, our children will go to school clean and come back clean. We are happy and grateful to the County Government of Kiambu, the World Bank, and KISIP for this development,” he said.

Judy Mwangi, a resident of neighbouring Karanjee, could not hide her joy. “I use this road often, and going downhill has never been easy, especially during the rainy seasons. Now that the road is being tarmacked, transport will be much easier. Vehicles will access the area, tuk-tuks will come, businesses will grow, and Misri will change for the better,” she said.

The project goes beyond tarmacking and includes an improved drainage system, solar-powered street lighting and pedestrian walkways. These complementary features are designed to enhance road safety, improve security, and promote all-weather accessibility within the settlement.

MIsri Roads Tarmacked

The area MCA for Limuru East, Hon. Macharia Wambui, under whose jurisdiction Misri falls, praised the project, noting that it is the first tarmacked road in Misri, courtesy of the County Government and the Kenya Informal Settlements Improvement Project (KISIP), sponsored by the World Bank.

“If you have ever used this road, you will agree that moving through Misri was a challenge. The paths were muddy, steep, and impassable during the rainy season. Said MCA Macharia.

Once completed, the Misri Road is expected to serve as a catalyst for sustained socio-economic growth, restoring dignity, unlocking opportunity, and setting the settlement on a path toward long-term development.

Speaking during an inspection visit, the Chief Officer for Housing and Community Development, Mr. Daniel Njenga, emphasized the broader socio-economic impact of the project, noting that similar infrastructure upgrades across Kiambu County have supported business growth, enhanced security and increased property value.

Chief Officer Daniel Njenga during the tarmacking of Misri Roads in Limuru Municipality

“This is about restoring dignity and opening up opportunities for our people,” Mr. Njenga said. “In Kiambu, we are benefiting in five settlements with infrastructure development of roads upgrading to bitumen standards, with complete drainage systems, pedestrian footpaths, and installation of solar streetlights. In total, we are doing over 7.3 km of tarmac roads, drainage system, and footpaths, and a total of 600 integrated solar streetlights”. noted Chief Njenga.

‎The project is being implemented by the Kiambu County Government under the leadership of H.E. Governor Kimani Wamatangi, with support from the World Bank and Agence Française de Développement (AFD). It aligns with the County’s commitment to upgrading informal settlements through inclusive and sustainable infrastructure development.