I come from Kitui and I have relatives and friends in the
Meru region of Kenya. It is natural, therefore, that I have had occasion to use
the roads that connect the towns of Kitui and Meru.
Our journey starts at Kitui Town which we will consider
to be the kilometre 0 of our journey. One travels towards the junction with
Garissa Road (i.e. the Thika-Mwingi-Garissa highway), going past markets and
trading centres such as Kabati, Katutu, and Kathiani (not to be confused with
Kathiiani in Machakos County).
At the Garissa Road junction you will turn left, travel
for 4 kilometres, and encounter Kanyonyooni Market, which is 52 kilometres from
Kitui Town. Here (to your right) is found the junction leading towards Embu
Town.
35 kilometres along this road you come upon the Kindaruma
Dam and the Kindaruma Hydroelectric Power Station that is built there. Apart
from the dam (which you drive on top of) the other notable feature here is a
number of notices warning passers-by not to take any photographs of the area. I
don’t know why that is, but the best thing is to comply and move on to the
little town of Kiritiri, 15 kilometres ahead.
The main economic activity in the Kiritiri area appears
to be trade in miraa (khat) or muguka, or both. You get to see many
Toyota Probox and Toyota Succeed vehicles parked around. It is these cars that
are used to distribute the stimulant produce from here to various places. When
driving from Kitui you will meet these vehicles being driven recklessly as they
head to market destinations like Masii, Kitui, Mutomo, Ikutha, and so on.
3 kilometres from Kiritiri is the junction to Siakago
Town, branching off to the right. As you travel straight ahead past the Siakago
junction you come to the big town of Embu. This former provincial headquarters
of the now-defunct Eastern Province of Kenya is now the administrative
headquarters for Embu County. At Embu Town is a major junction, with the road
to the left leading to Mwea and the Thika-Nyeri highway, and the road to the
right leading towards Meru.
26 Kilometres after Embu is the little town of Runyenjes,
which is part of Embu County.
A part of Runyenjes Town.
17 kilometres after Runyenjes is the bustling town of
Chuka, one of the main urban centres of Tharaka-Nithi County. At Chuka you will
find a major public service vehicle (PSV) terminus as well as the Chuka
University.
8 kilometres from Chuka you come upon the dreaded valley
of the Nithi Bridge. The gorge, through which the road goes, is fairly steep,
and will not fail to impress those who pass by there for the first time. Many
people experience a little anxiety when driving through the valley; losing
control and going over the bridge would definitely spell doom.
After the Nithi crossing one goes past the market centre
of Katharaka before getting to Chogoria, 9 kilometres from the Nithi Bridge. Chogoria
is a busy town characterised by institutions such as the large Presbyterian
Church of East Africa (PCEA) Chogoria Hospital, Chogoria Boys High School, and
Chogoria Girls High School. The town also has a number of hotels, financial
institutions, and a PSV terminus.
26 kilometres from Chogoria is the busy market town of Nkubu.
Here, too, you will find a number of hotels and restaurants, financial service
providers, and plenty of vegetable vendors, especially along the highway.
A guest house at Nkubu.
12 kilometres from Nkubu, and 230 kilometres from Kitui,
is the big town of Meru. Located in a well-watered and agriculturally
productive highland area, Meru Town serves as the administrative headquarters
for Meru County. As opportunity arises we will discuss what goes on in Meru.
-The
End-
