Poor state of roads paints grim picture of ‘fastest growing town’

Although it was recently singled out by a United Nations report as one of the fastest growing urban centres, Nakuru Town’s roads are in a sorry state.

The main Nakuru-Nairobi highway is smooth, but on branching off into the town’s streets, the roads are an eyesore.

Residents complain that despite the constituency being allocated Sh25 million this financial year for road rehabilitation, not much has been done.

Spend a lot of money

Most roads are impassable and their conditions deteriorated after heavy rains pounded the area.

The revival of the once thriving industrial area may be slowed down due to pathetic state of the roads and this may keep away many potential investors.

The manager of a company dealing with poultry products says: “It is increasingly expensive to do business in this area. We spend a lot of money to repair vehicles.

The chairman of Nakuru Business Association, Mr Boniface Muhia, says: “The road network in Nakuru Town is frustrating and those allocated the money to rehabilitate the roads must act now.”

Roads leading to the densely populated areas of Kaptembwa, Kwa Rhonda, Githima, London, Lanet, Free Area and Barut are impassable and are only fit for tractors and heavy earth movers. The Jua Kali area, from where thousands of youth in the town eke out a living, has not been spared as huge potholes are characteristic of the roads.

But the worst section is the Pivot roundabout in Shabab. It is an understatement to say that this roundabout is a nightmare, especially, when it rains.

Kanu Street, regarded as Nakuru’s red-light district, is a series of gaping potholes while some of the roads linked to the street such as General Chui Road are no-go-zones for motorists.

Surprisingly, the Municipal Council in its budget estimates for the current financial year says it would spend Sh67 million to improve roads.

Town clerk Sheikh Abdulahi could not be reached for comment as his calls were unanswered.

Slow rehabilitation pace

The Constituency Development Fund kitty on road maintenance was increased from Sh16 million in last financial year to Sh25 million.

The regional manager in charge of the Kenya Rural Roads Authority, Mr Joseph Irungu Mburu, blames the slow pace in the rehabilitation and maintenance of the roads on the heavy rains, which have hit Nakuru for the better part of this year.

“The weather was not conducive for work, that is why most projects are slow. When the rains subside, funds would be allocated for these roads. A committee is on the ground identifying damaged roads,” said Mr Mburu.

He added that floods in areas such as Kaptembwa, Mwariki, and Kwa Rhonda have damaged the roads and washed away culverts.