Mzee Wanyama residents blame potholes for rise in fatal road crashes
A car avoiding potholes along Mzee Wanyama road, on October 17, 2024.
The tragic death of former Shabab MCA Daniel Kamau was tragic.
Most of the residents living around Mzee Wanyama and Kaka James where the incident occurred attributed the accident to the poor state of the road that is riddled with potholes.
The road is filled with glaring potholes that have since been filled with sand.
As we inspected the accident scene, we met Samuel Macharia who had witnessed the accident first hand.
Samuel Macharia during an interview with Mtaa Wangu on October 17, 2024.
“The late MCA’s vehicle was coming from Mzee Wanyama heading to Town, while the lorry was coming from the opposite direction. At Kaka James we have these two big potholes and both of them were trying to avoid hitting them and so in the process there was a head on collision,” he says.
The resident says, “I have lived at Kaka James all my life and we have witnessed so many accidents along this road because of the potholes. Since last year there have been over six accidents along this road”
Edwin Wachira a boda boda rider along this route laments how he has suffered injuries while trying to escape the potholes on this road.
“I was carrying luggage for a client who had told me to ferry it to Free Area. A tuktuk was coming from the opposite direction and there was a huge pothole in the middle of the road. As we both tried evading it, I was pushed out of the road and ended up falling and injuring my knee and elbows,” he says.
Wachira continues, “I have bought shock absorbers thrice in a span of five months because I am usually on this road a lot and in the process of hitting these potholes they tear. Now I am wondering, will I be working to be able to feed my family or will I keep on spending money on shock absorbers?”
Nyaituga Maina an opinion leader in the area says that the road which was built some few years back has become damaged due to the heavy flow of traffic, most of it being the huge lorries ferrying sand from the nearby quarries.
Nyaituga Maina an opinion leader in Barnabas during an interview with Mtaa Wangu on October 17, 2024.
“The situation is so dire that we have young men who are residents of this area that have taken it upon themselves to constantly fix these potholes to help vehicles navigate through safely. This should not be the case. Kenya Rural Roads Authority ( KeRRA) should step in and mend this road,” he says.
Maina concludes by saying that the residents of this area are tired of the countless accidents that have claimed the lives of many people.
The area Member of County Assembly, Nakuru East Ward, Anthony Kamau has also written a letter to KeRRA, imploring them to prioritize repairs and safety enhancements on the Nakuru- Elementaita road.
“The recent accidents on this stretch of the road have resulted in loss of lives and urgent intervention is necessary to prevent further tragedies. As concerned citizens, we implore KeRRA to take immediate action to address the issue,” reads part of the statement.