Bad Lanet road pits area MCA against county administration

Residents from Lanet along Nyojoro drive have been lamenting on the poor state of the road linking the Nyonjoro drive and riverside -Moi forces drive.

The county-level road which is approximately 1.5 kilometres long.

The residents note that the road is impassable during the rainy season caused by a tunnel dug up by a contractor and the bad condition of the road.

Esther Wanjiru, says the road has been like this for years.

“The contractor on site started by digging up what they say is a drainage tunnel. However, we as residents say it is a drainage to nowhere. If it’s not flooding the road when it’s raining, it is a danger to our children because the trench was not sealed up,” she notes.

Additionally, she reveals that the ditch continues to expand in width and depth as it continues to rain, mentioning that residents now fear that their perimeter walls may collapse if the matter is not looked into.

Ms Wanjiru adds that even after reaching out to the concerned authorities including the area MCA, nothing has been done to improve the state of the road.

Another resident, Patrick Mureithi, notes that, most of them have to find alternative places to park their cars and proceed home by foot because the ditch has made it impossible for them to access their home with their cars.

“I was running a construction project at home. This has stalled since this ditch was dug up.”

He notes that other than the tunnel the road is now like a shamba when it rains.

“Cars are skidding in the mud and getting stuck because the waste from the ditch was dumped on the road,” he says as he laments on the shoddy job done by the contractor.

Peter Nyunje, also a resident, says that it’s not once that someone fell in the tunnel, noting that two residents have been hurt after falling in.

“When it rains the ditch fills up and floods the road. If you are not familiar with the road you can fall in the ditch. I don’t see why the county government is not taking this matter with the seriousness it deserves.

He continues, “Currently there is a section of the tunnel whose depth is about three feet deep. If a child falls in there, who's to say the outcome will not be terrifying. Now that children have resumed school, we are forced to pick them from school to make sure they are okay.”

Responding to the matter, area MCA Samuel Kamau, notes that there has been reluctance by the county executives to follow up and ensure that projects have been completed and done up to standards.

“We have roads that were started but have not been completed because those responsible within the executive docket are sleeping on their job. We have tractors and grader machines parked in Lanet where a road is being constructed, simply because they do not have fuel,” he says, noting that this has caused projects within the area to lag.

He notes that this is beyond him.

“My hands are tied. It's now upon the contractor and county executive officers to step in and do their job. I cannot fund these projects from my pocket yet there is money allocated for it. My work is oversight, to legislate and represent. The execution is done by the executives,” he notes.