Roads allow people to access markets. When it rains the economy suffers because of lack of mobility and cessation of building projects (a large employer). The shelves at the local stores empty because vehicles, mostly motorcycles, cannot reach our area. Pockets lighten as meager savings dissipate and work projects are put on hold until it drys out.
Inadequate road infrastructure is very wasteful. Burns from falling under the exhaust pipe are commonplace. 20% of Juma’s income goes to maintenance and repairs of his motorcycle. Maintenance every week is required because the bad roads dangerously loosen the bolts on his sub-standard motorcycle. A small slip can break a clutch. A broken clutch is about three days worth of work and you have to walk the bike 3 miles up and down hills to get it repaired.
For $1/meter people will flatten the road and dig drainage ditches to manage the water. For $10/ meter we can add gravel. We have already leveled and put in water management for 400 meters of the most dangerous road for $25 (thanks to Baba Kahindi and Juma for volunteering to work for so little).
