Kijabe residents now have to put up with the inconvenience of a longer route and higher fares to benefit from road tarmacking in the area.
James Njuguna who operates a taxi at the AIC Kijabe Hospital said the road starting from Gichiengo-Kijabe Centre is closed as early as 9am for construction to begin.
Njuguna said this has forced them to use an alternative route that spirals near Kijabe Girls School all the way to Kimende town.
“We normally charge Sh50 per person when carrying a trip to Gichiengo from the hospital, but with the road closure, we are forced to charge Sh100 and to carry the passengers to Kimende instead,” said Njuguna.
Meanwhile, matatus ferrying passengers to Nairobi connect to the Mai-Mahiu road using a long bumpy and bushy road.
"The fare to Nairobi has increased from Sh150 to Sh200," he said.
Njuguna added that despite the inconveniences, the residents were happy that smooth transportation would eventually be realised after years of bumpy rides.
Samuel Chege who works at the Kijabe Mission Hospital said patients would have an easier time travelling to and from the hospital after the construction is complete.
“Pregnant women were having a hard travel down the steep road coming for clinics and delivery. Patients with limb problems and other ailments have also been suffering,” said Chege.
Kijabe area is under Lari constituency under the leadership of MP Mburu Kahangara. The road construction is funded by the national government and donors at a cost of over Sh150million.