A section of residents of Ongata Rongai, Kitengela, Kiserian, and adjacent areas in Kajiado County have petitioned the Parliament on the deplorable roads in the areas.
In a petition submitted under Article 119 of the Constitution and Standing Orders 202 of the National Assembly, the residents in the mentioned areas decried the abandonment of construction of the roads leading to the high cost of traveling and health complications.
The incomplete tarmac roads include Embulbul to Ongata Rongai and the road connecting Gataka, Ongata Rongai, Matasi, and Oloolua.
“Motorists, including public service transport providers incur high costs of repair to their vehicle. Public service providers transfer this cost to their customers making the cost of transport very high. For example, tuk tuk fare from Maasai Lodge to Diguna, a distance of 1.5Km is Sh50 per person,” the petition read.
It further stated that motorists incur fuel wastage and more time on the road, an avoidable economic and environmental cost that would not be incurred if the roads were motorable.
The dust from the incomplete roads endangers the lives of commuters because of the little visibility by the drivers.
According to them, a lot of dust on the road has resulted in schools resorting to giving reflectors to children because of poor visibility.
“Many women and middle-aged to older people complain of orthopedic complications due to the bumpy nature of roads.”
The roads have led to the loss of time for commuters through the traffic jam to work, bearing that the areas serve as residential for people working in Nairobi. Security is also a concern as police take a long to reach the scenes.
The residents complained about the leadership in the national and county governments, including road sector leaders failing to make formal commitments with them to see how to solve the grave harm being suffered.
“That the state of roads in Ongata Rongai, Kitengela, Kiserian and adjacent areas, therefore, goes against the government’s policies on safe cities and urban areas and requires urgent intervention.”
The petition noted that through the deplorable state of roads, the residents in the mentioned areas are deprived of freedom of movement, the right to a clean environment, education, health, and education.
The most vulnerable people are persons with disability, pregnant women, and sick and young children.
The petition urged the committee on Roads and Transport to act urgently by visiting the affected areas and summoning the Cabinet Secretary of Transport, CEO of Kenya Urban Roads Authority and the Kenya Rural Roads Authority, and all other persons deemed necessary to address the issue.
Under Section 7 of the Roads Act, the petition indicates that various roads in Ongata Rongai, Kitengela, Kiserian, and adjacent areas in Kajiado County are designated to two separate authorities – the KURA and KeRRA.
Additionally, they want the deplorable roads in the affected areas to be a national concern to achieve urgent intervention.
They asked the authorities to prioritize the construction and maintenance of the road connecting Maasai Lodge, Ongata
Rongai SGR Station, and Rimpa, and the one linking Africa Nazarene, Tuala, and Kitenngela.
According to the petition, this will avoid further damages and expenditures on the roads.
The affected areas provide housing for thousands of people who work and study in Nairobi County due to the proximity.
They are also hubs of economic activity, providing revenue for national and county governments.
