Kirinyaga: Farmers in Mwea decry poor road network

Farmers in Mwea Irrigation Scheme, Kirinyaga County, are facing significant challenges due to the poor state of on-farm roads, which hinder their ability to transport produce during the harvest season.

Already struggling with high production costs and water scarcity, farmers are now forced to spend more to navigate the poor road network.

"We pay Ksh 5,000 per hectare for water and maintenance to the National Irrigation Authority (NIA), but we don't receive any services," said Karimi Nyaga, a rice farmer.

"The last time these roads were constructed was during the government of the late former President Mwai Kibaki."

Currently harvesting their second crop, known as "ratoon" or "mucoka," farmers find it increasingly difficult to transport their produce to the main roads due to the poor condition of on-farm roads.

Some are paying over Ksh 1,000 to move their produce through the challenging terrain.

"We add another Ksh 100 for every step with a hole to the people we have employed," Karimi Nyaga explained. "It's becoming unsustainable."

Jane Njeri, another farmer, expressed her frustration: "Despite the high cost of production and water shortages, we are facing immense difficulties. Our leaders have been promising us solutions in vain; we are suffering."

The farmers have appealed to their local elected leaders to secure funds for constructing the on-farm roads, but their pleas have gone unanswered.

"We face numerous problems here, including snails and birds," said John Munene.

Criticism has also been directed at the government's introduction of the e-citizen mode of payment, which farmers say is tedious.

"Payments through e-citizen take too long to process and don't help the scheme," Munene said.

The farmers have accused their local leaders of failing to represent their interests, especially in stopping the e-citizen payment system.

"Our elected leaders are crying as we are crying, yet we elected them. Why did we elect them if they won't help us?" Munene questioned.

"We want the national government to allocate funds to repair the roads in the Mwea Irrigation Scheme. We are tired of leaders who only make noise at burial ceremonies and on social media but do nothing for us,” Jane Njeri said.

Many farmers are now asking when the government will intervene to address their challenges. "Where is the government? Where are our leaders?" asked Peter Muriuki.