As heavy rains continue to batter many parts of Kenya, including Shimba Hills Sub-County in Kwale, residents are once again facing immense challenges due to the poor state of roads in the area.
Through social media posts and reactions, locals have voiced frustration, accusing politicians of using the long-promised tarmacking of the 70-kilometre Mwabungo-TM road as a campaign tool, only to abandon the pledge once elected.
“This is an agricultural region, especially in horticulture. We take our produce to Kongowea and the new Mvindeni market, but transport is a real problem, and when it rains, the roads become impassable. There’s even a new fruit processing plant coming up in Shimba Hills town, but how will the produce get there with roads in this condition?” one resident posted.
Residents say signposts indicating the start of the project were put up years ago, yet no construction has ever begun.
The sub-county, home to over 80,000 people, was gazetted in August 2022 after being carved out of Matuga Sub-County by merging the Kubo and Mkongani divisions. During the handover of administrative offices four years ago, then Kwale County Commissioner Gideon Oyagi said the government intended to tarmac the roads to boost transport and local commerce.
“It would be the first time for Shimba Hills residents to have tarmacked roads. The current roads are in a sorry state and have remained unrepaired for years, contributing to poverty and the stagnation of development in the area,” Oyagi stated. “KeNHA has taken over the road, and the engineer assured us it would first be repaired and later upgraded.”
The situation has not changed, however. On her radio show, a renowned journalist, who has family in Lukore, one of the towns along the 70-kilometre stretch, recalled a harrowing experience during a visit.
“Every time we plan to go home, we must be well prepared. Despite the many leaders this region has had, none have ensured we get a tarmacked road. There’s even a spot we’ve marked from five years ago — our car got stuck in the mud during the rainy season, and we had to push it out. Governor Achani, please fulfill the promise made to the people,” she said.
Residents continue to express their frustration online. A Facebook post addressing the matter attracted several strong reactions:
Evangelist Mbithi: “Hawa viongozi alafu wanakaa hawaoni haya???”
Susan Mzugha: “Wengine after maandamano ya last year walikuja mbio ground kutudanganya wamepitisha finance bill (2024) kwa sababu wametengewa. Kwale wake up — wrong leaders. Maisha mabaya.”
Ruth Makusa: “Hii barabara ni ya miaka twende miaka rudi! Since I was born jamani 40 years ago. We need change.”
Meanwhile, Matuga Member of Parliament Hassan Tandaza raised concerns during a public budget participation forum at the Cultural Centre in Kwale, arguing that the proposed 2025/2026 national budget sidelines critical development needs in the region.
“In a national budget of Ksh 4.3 trillion, with Ksh 700 billion allocated for development, Kwale is allocated less than Ksh 1 billion. That’s 0.001 percent. We even have a project here under correctional services that has been allocated just Ksh 100,000. Even county governments don’t allocate such amounts,” Tandaza lamented.
He further criticized the exclusion of major projects such as the tarmacking of the Kwale-Kinango road and the construction of the Mwachande and Funzi bridges from the budget.
Now, after 11 years of devolution and 61 years of independence, residents of Shimba Hills and its surroundings say they are still pleading for a basic infrastructure need — one they believe could unlock business, attract investment, and transform their lives.