Government set to tarmac banditry-prone Maralal-Baragoi road
Morijo shopping center on the Maralal-Baragoi road in Samburu County.
After years of enduring impassable roads and rampant insecurity, residents of Samburu County may finally see a breakthrough as the government moves to tarmac the Maralal-Baragoi road.
If implemented, the project could transform the lives of locals who have long suffered due to poor infrastructure and frequent ambushes by armed bandits.
The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) recently advertised tenders for the project in local dailies, signaling the long-overdue development.
The Maralal-Baragoi road has been a hotbed of insecurity with bandits and cattle rustlers targeting travelers and traders.
Last week, gunmen ambushed a bus carrying approximately 60 passengers killing two and injuring more than eight.
And a year ago, Angata Nanyekie Ward MCA Paul Leshimpiro was killed in a similar ambush while heading home to Morijo area. Leaders and locals have blamed the poor state of the road for enabling such attacks as slow-moving vehicles make easy targets.
“The state of this road is terrible, and bandits hide in the bushes, launching ambushes daily. We hope the government will move quickly to upgrade it,” said Lesirko Lenaseyian, a local elder.
Bandits exploit the road’s rugged terrain and bushy surroundings to stage attacks before retreating into rocky hideouts, making it difficult for security forces to respond effectively.
The planned tarmacking of the road is seen as a response to growing pressure from local leaders and residents.
Also, poor infrastructure has long hindered security operations making it difficult to curb frequent attacks.
Samburu Governor Jonathan Lelelit welcomed the government’s commitment to improving road networks in the region.
“We thank the government for prioritising this much-needed development in Samburu County,” he said.
Samburu North MP Eli Letipila termed the project a milestone that will not only enhance security but also unlock economic opportunities in Baragoi.
“The first phase of the Maralal-Morijo-Baragoi road, covering 38 kilometers, has been advertised for tarmacking. We thank President William Ruto for this great consideration,” he said.
The first phase of the project is expected to cost approximately Sh2.9 billion in the current financial year.
In addition to the Maralal-Baragoi road, the government has also announced plans to construct the Kisima-Soradoru-Wamba road.
The two projects will be undertaken concurrently to improve connectivity between remote villages and major trading centers.
Like the Maralal-Baragoi route, the Kisima-Soradoru-Wamba road has suffered years of neglect, often becoming impassable during the rainy season.
Residents now hope that the long-awaited road projects will bring not only security but also economic transformation to the region.