Nairobi Governor Sakaja Johnson outlined a plan to restore roads and improve drainage in Kilimani, Kileleshwa, Lavington, and other key areas affected by rapid urban development.
Sakaja acknowledged that many roads in these areas have deteriorated due to heavy trucks transporting construction materials to various sites.
He said it is the responsibility of contractors to maintain and restore roads damaged during construction.
“It must be clear that contractors are required to maintain the roads as they build. Once construction is complete, they must redo the roads, failure to do so will result in the denial of occupational licenses,” Sakaja stated.
To address the issue, the county government will ensure that all roads and drainage systems adjacent to construction sites are repaired by the developers responsible.
In addition, Sakaja revealed that the county has a broader plan to recarpet roads across the city.
“We are currently working on several roads in Kilimani. For instance, Kindaruma Road is under construction as we speak, Kilimani Road is complete, the road leading to Oyster Bay has been done, and Nyangumi Road has also been refurbished,” he said.
Sakaja also linked the city’s infrastructure challenges to rapid population growth. According to the Nairobi City County Land Policy of 2021, urban expansion is necessary to accommodate the increasing population.
“The city’s development plan dates back to the 1970s when Nairobi had a population of only a few hundred thousand.
Today, we have over seven million residents. We must be patient with the growth and ensure that infrastructure keeps up with demand,” he explained.
He assured residents that Kilimani, Kileleshwa, Parklands, and Lavington are part of the county government’s broader plan, in collaboration with the national government, to upgrade roads and drainage systems.
“This partnership will see most of these roads and others in all other parts of the city repaired in the coming months,” he concluded.
The recent rains have led to losses, damage of property and other inconveniences.
For instance, heavy downpour on Sunday evening brought down a school perimeter wall on Valley Road occasioning immense danger to passing motorists.
Over the last 20 years, the buildings that have been put up in places like Upper Hill is almost triple its former status.
From hotels, to corporate building and to residential buildings, the high-end address is teeming with flashy high end developments which of necessity collect storm water and other circumstances redirect or block old waterways.
The job of cleaning blocked drainage and improving on existing storm drains belongs to the County Government.
But even as they collect revenue from almost anything that moves or occupies space, service delivery remains wanting.
Sakaja said that he is awaiting a report from the built environment experts over the mushrooming of buildings in the city.
However, what can be done in the meantime to ensure loss of lives and property is avoided?
For those in the know, a great part of Madaraka Estate and South C area among other localities, used to be swamps.
Court Orders Fresh Census In Mandera, Wajir And Garissa, Quashes 2019 Count
