Former Thika Town MP Patrick Wainaina has accused successive leadership of abandoning development projects he initiated, claiming the constituency has experienced limited progress since he left office four years ago.

Wainaina, who has shelved his Kiambu gubernatorial ambitions to seek a return to Parliament, cited the stalled Gatuanyaga-Munyu road, a neglected irrigation scheme and deteriorating schools as evidence of what he described as lost development gains.

Speaking during a meet-the-people tour to popularise his DCP candidature for the Thika parliamentary seat at the Maguguini area, Thika East Sub County, he said the Ndumanga irrigation scheme in the sub-county, which was intended to improve food security in the semi-arid area, had fallen into disrepair.

The Sh400 million government-funded project was set to improve the livelihoods of over 10,000 households in Ndula, Maguguini and Ngoliba areas. Residents had water piped to irrigate their farms and were producing enough for their own consumption and for the market.

“For the Ndumanga irrigation project, the pipes have even been stolen, and the rest vandalised. The project which would have ended food insecurity in that semi-arid region of the county is now dead,” he said.

He also lamented the slow progress of the Gatuanyaga-Munyu road, whose tarmacking was initiated during his tenure, saying residents continued to endure inconvenience due to the delays.

“We even had a programme to facelift schools, but the schools are now in poor condition. We even drilled boreholes to help during water rationing, which have since been abandoned,” he added.

Wainaina pledged to revive the stalled projects if elected, while promising to complete ongoing infrastructure initiatives started by his successor, Alice Ng’ang’a.

He said his record in office demonstrated a commitment to service delivery, noting that he had been recognised as a top-performing MP for two consecutive years during his tenure.

Ng’ang’a, who is seeking the Kiambu gubernatorial seat, has defended her development record, citing the construction of Sh850 million Thika Stadium, which is more than 50 per cent complete, almost 1,000 affordable housing units in the constituency; modern markets and tarmacking of some major roads among her achievements.

She has also come up with a school feeding programme for all primary schools and has been at the forefront in defending the deteriorated health sector in the county.

Wainaina’s decision to abandon the gubernatorial race marks a shift in his political strategy as he seeks to reclaim the constituency he previously represented.

Meanwhile, residents Ephantus Mwangi and Mary Warika said Kenyans were tired of poor governance and wanted leaders capable of transforming their livelihoods.

By Muoki Charles