Residents and business owners in Nyali Sub County are voicing their frustration over significant losses attributed to the apparent neglect of local road networks and inadequate drainage systems.
The community has particularly condemned the slow progress in repairing a crucial road linking Kongowea market, which they say has been detrimental to their businesses over the past few months, adversely affecting the local economy.
In an interview with People Daily at Kongowea-Karama, one of Nyali’s most vibrant economic hubs, residents expressed their disappointment with the prolonged repair work.
“This road has been in terrible condition for as long as I can remember, causing us immense suffering. When the repairs started, we were overjoyed. However, the project has dragged on, stalled, and the road is now in worse shape than before,” lamented Felix Muitethya, a tuk-tuk operator in the Kongowea-Karama area.
Residents noted that the situation has deteriorated further recently. The contractor working on the project spread stones along the more than one-kilometre stretch, only for the project to come to a stand still, rendering the road nearly impassable.
Alternative routes Chairman of the Karama Stage Boda Boda operators,Wycliffe Kigunzu, explained how motorists have been forced to seek alternative but often unsafe routes, exposing them to security risks.
“Motorists, including wholesale truckers, tuk-tuk, matatu, and boda boda opera[1]tors, find it challenging to use this route due to the sharp protruding stones that dam[1]age vehicles.
As a result, we are forced to use meandering routes where gangs sometimes block the way, demanding cash for passage,” Kigunzu said, noting that the situation has compelled residents to walk to safer stages.
Sylus Wanjohi, a member of Nyumba Kumi in Kongowea, suggested that poor drainage is the root cause of the chronic road issues.
Having lived in the area for over 30 years, Wanjohi explained that the lack of proper drainage results in roads perpetually dotted with potholes.
