County Government of Laikipia

The benefits of Ol Jabet smart town which is underway have started trickling to the local community, improving the livelihoods of many.

  

The County Government of Laikipia has taken this initiative to ensure faster industrialization of the county through urbanization. The project, being constructed in two phases will have its first phase complete before the end of this year. The huge investment by the county government has not been in vain.

  

According to the project manager, Esther Mathenge the economic positive change is evident as the people embrace the new look.

  

Many businesses have already started rebranding and changing the look of this town since we started its improvement to a smart town. Ms. Mathenge said.

  

Paving the streets of the town will make movement easier while accessing businesses that are in the interior especially during rainy seasons where the mud was a huge hindrance, to go about their daily businesses will now be possible.

  

According to the site foreman Ouma Duncan, this project has already created employment among the locals in the area.

  

We have employed 60 unskilled workers and 10 skilled persons from here. he also added that 70% of the earthwork is complete, that is, the dam section, service roads, Jua Kali roads, and also the dispensary.

  

New businesses have started springing up in Ol Jabet town. Among them is a large-scale posho mill. She says she has witnessed new businesses come up every day owing to the fact that good roads are enablers of businesses in any area. Investors look for places with good infrastructure to put their money with an assurance of low costs of production.

  

The town was previously muddy. Shoppers would only engage with those selling along the highway which has tarmac and leaving other sellers in interior sections of the town at the mercy of those with guts to maneuver the muddy streets.

  

The business community is confessing that the businesses are doing better because they are now accessible. We now have a modern posho mill and a supermarket, businesses we never had before. she said, adding that they expect even more such business.

  

Mathenge says that not only new businesses coming up but also people coming to reside in the new town. The flow of people has increased compared to when the town was either muddy or dusty depending on the weather.

  

According to the chairman business community in Ol Jabet, Daniel Mwangi, the products the community has been forced to get in Nyahururu or other major towns will be available without extra cost in commuting fees. He says he has talked to people who are waiting for the completion of the project to invest in the town.

  

We will rarely be visiting Nyahururu and other towns to look for some products as they soon will be available here. The way people take time before going to Nairobi will be the same way we will be taking before visiting Nyahururu. the chairman said.

  

The county government intentionally heavily invested in the area to attract more investors, both local and international which will help in creating jobs for the local community, while also saving the people from making long journeys in search of basic commodities.

  

Every investment, especially the major ones will have people from the locality as employees. Already, about 90 percent of the people involved in the construction of the project are people from the area.

  

We have engaged the community to ensure we get local labor in the construction of this smart town. In fact, only 10 people working here are not locals. said Duncan Ouma, the site foreman.

  

Investors are advised to take this early opportunity to make their investment in Ol Jabet so that when the infrastructure develops in the town, they will have an advantage. The real estate business is a viable opportunity as the town attracts more people to visit and even settle. Land prices are also expected to shoot as the town continues developing, thus the time to relocate and invest is now!

  

The smart town project is an inspiration for me to start this posho mill business. The location is interior but the road construction has made it easier for customers to reach my business. said retired senior chief Lawrence Kihoro Njuki.

  

Mr. Wanjohi Waka, who owns a soup and mutura base says he has been having customers even from Karandi as people pass by while checking the progress of the project. He also says since the smart town project started, there is a high demand for business premises in the town.

  

The ongoing improvement of the town is attracting more and more people. Ms. Judy Githogori of Angaza Boutique in Ol Jabet designs vitenge clothes. Ms. Githogori, who is in the Laikipia Innovation and Enterprise Development Program hails Governor Ndiritu Muriithi for encouraging people to buy locally made fabrics thus promoting her business.

  

The smart town project has been effective in a positive way to her business, she says. The construction of the roads around the town has eased access to the market. Farmers can bring potatoes, maize, and even milk to the market easily. Also, the health center has become accessible to many.

  

Ms. Mary Gitucha, popularly known as WaCaro Salon says: We will have a proper display of business due to the smart town project as there will be no dust or mud. It will lead to the expansion of the business as more customers will be attracted to the area.