Residents of Muhuru Bay in Nyatike South Sub-County have intensified calls for the completion of the Muhuru-Masara Road, a 31-kilometer infrastructure project that remains unfinished despite repeated assurances from local leaders. Kennedy Nyambok, a community representative, highlighted that the road’s deteriorating condition disrupts trade, fishing operations, and access to essential services. The route, critical for transporting fish from Muhuru Bay—a major Lake Victoria fishing hub—to markets in Masara, Namba, and Migori towns, has also hindered agricultural connectivity and emergency healthcare access, according to residents.
The Kenya Ports Authority’s ongoing Muhuru Bay Pier Development project, aimed at boosting the region’s blue economy, has further amplified demands for road improvements. Millicent Auma, a local resident, emphasized that the pier’s potential cannot be realized without a functional road network. She urged Nyatike Member of Parliament Tom Odege to leverage his position to pressure the National Government to finalize the road project, ensuring communities benefit from related economic opportunities. Residents also appealed to President William Ruto for direct intervention, citing the road as a persistent challenge for the region.
The B1 road, managed by the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA), was initially slated for bitumen upgrading during President Ruto’s May 2025 development tour of Migori County. However, the project has stalled in a legal and procurement phase as of June 2026, according to community reports. This delay has left residents frustrated, as the road’s incomplete status undermines both the pier project and broader regional development efforts. Local leaders face mounting pressure to resolve the impasse and restore connectivity for economic and social stability.
The stalled Muhuru-Masara Road project underscores systemic challenges in infrastructure delivery, with residents bearing the brunt of delayed development. As calls for accountability grow, the outcome of this issue could set a precedent for how local and national authorities address community-driven infrastructure needs in Kenya’s rural regions.