Outrage over pathetic state of Old Namanga road as confusion rules

National road agencies and the Kajiado government have been put on the spot for ignoring a section of Old Namanga road that ought to serve the populous Kitengela town as a bypass to ease traffic congestion. 

A stretch of 10km that forms the Old Namanga road has been marred by controversies over which entity it falls under. Meanwhile, residents continue to undergo untold suffering. 

In the late 70s and 80s, the stretch, which was part of the current Namanga highway, was under the Kenya National Highways Authority, but when the section was re-routed, it was passed to Kenya Rural Roads Authority (Kerra).

After the inception of the devolved units in 2013, the Kajiado government is said to have taken over the road from Kerra, prompting its reclassification. However, Kerra still does routine maintenance. Kerra engineers say they intervene on “humanitarian grounds”, but locals want it tarmacked as a long-term solution, saying murram doesn’t last.

On November 23, 2018, Kenya Urban Roads Authority (Kura) Director General Silas Kinoti visited the road, accompanied by Kajiado Roads executive Alex Kilowua, and promised that it would be tarmacked. Since then, residents have remained optimistic,  but nothing has been done.

Road rehabilitation

Agitated residents who met the contractor mandated by Kerra to rehabilitate the road to make it usable yesterday said roads agencies and the county have been going round in circles whenever they raise their concerns.

"We are victims of empty promises. We are tired of being tossed from one road agency to the other. This road has become a campaign tool for our leaders. Its upgrade to bitumen standards is long overdue," said James Kiarie, adding huge potholes turn into pools of water whenever it rains.

Currently, the road is characterised by billowing clouds of dust that compromise users’ health. Accidents are common, with motorists decrying high vehicle maintenance costs. The bad state also hinders police patrols, thus compromising security.

"This is a shame that needs to be addressed. The value of land is going down in this area. Homeowners are abandoning their homes due to the dusty impassable road," said Francis Kaesha, Sholinke/Oloosirkon MCA.

The road serves several middle-class estates and posh homes owned by prominent politicians, as well as several flower farms. Most investors had bought tracts of land before the road was re-routed.