The Star (Nairobi)

Kenya: Heavy Rains Pound Nyandarua As Farmers Suffer Huge Losses

Photo: Capital FM
Floods hit Kenya (file photo).

Crops worth millions of shillings in Nyandarua have been destroyed by the ongoing heavy rains. The rains have cut off roads and farmers cannot transport their produce.

Farmers have been left counting losses running into thousand of shillings daily as the rains pound the area. Dairy farmers have had to contend with impassable roads and therefore cannot transport their milk.

The milk transporters cannot access the roads, hence the milk farmers are worried about their perishable goods. Farmer Matheri wa Hungu says the most affected roads are Kirima-Ndunyu Njeru, Koinange-Githioro, Koinange-Njoma-Weru, Kirima-Engineer, Matundura-Weru and Magumu-Njabini.

Matheri said milk and vegetables are going to waste daily because of terrible conditions of roads. Former MP Waithaka Mwangi who is vying for the governor seat said he sympathised with the farmers.

Mwangi said despite farmers investing heavily in agriculture, they had little to show for it because of the bad state of roads and lack of market.

"It's sad to see farm produce rotting in parts of Nyandarua county while Kenyans are sleeping hungry," he said. He said Kariamu-Shamata, Oljoork-Ndondo, Kasuku-Kirima Njahi and Machinery-Gilgil roads needed urgent repairs.

The lawyer noted that the area was among the country's food-basket but for years farmers had been given a raw deal. He noted that if the road network in the area was opened up, food prices even in Nairobi and surrounding areas would drop.

"Every year farmers are loosing millions due to bad roads in Nyandarua County and its time this problem was fully addressed," he said.

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