Kikuyu Town to be accessed after road redesigned
Senator Judith Sijeny during an interview at her office in KICC on June 26, 2014. Senator Sijeny said that the Southern Bypass would be redesigned to allow for entry into Kikuyu Town. FILE PHOTO | ANTHONY OMUYA |
What you need to know:
- Mr Wamatangi said the roads committee had spoken with KeNHA and the ministry over the issue and that they had committed to resolve the problem.
- Mr Mburuti said: “This road has divided the town into two and this is not right at all. We must look at the interests of the people.”
The Southern Bypass will be redesigned to “save Kikuyu Town from dying”, according to a Senate roads committee.
The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) and the line ministry are working on the new design that allows for entry into the town from the bypass as well as from the Nairobi-Nakuru highway, the committee led by committee vice chairman Judith Sijeny said.
The senators and residents feared that the town would ‘die’ if the design remained unchanged.
“I sympathise with investors in the town who have been cut off from the main road following the construction of the bypass. This road should help residents and not to kill their businesses,” Kiambu Senator Wamatangi said.
“A similar scenario was witnessed during the construction of the Nakuru-Nairobi highway, where Gilgil Town was cut off from the highway. Because of this, the growth of Gilgil Town slowed down and has never recovered up to date.”
Mr Wamatangi said the roads committee had spoken with KeNHA and the ministry over the issue and that they had committed to resolve the problem.
RESIDENTS ASSURED
Ms Sijeny assured the residents that their concerns would be addressed. Others present during the tour of the bypass were Kisii Senator Chris Obure, his Homa Bay counterpart, the late Mr Otieno Kajwang’, and members of the Kiambu County Assembly roads committee, led by chairman James Mburuti and MCAs Binary Wainaina (Kikuyu) and Mutonya Njenga (Sigona).
“This is a small problem. I ask you to remain calm because it will soon be resolved,” Mr Kajwang’ said.
Mr Obure assured the residents that relevant authorities would revise the design.
“We spoke to KeNHA and told them that a road should help the citizens and not destroy their livelihoods. We agreed that Kikuyu Town must have (an) access road,” Mr Obure said.
The Southern Bypass starts from Mombasa Road and joins the Nairobi-Nakuru highway at Gitaru.
Mr Mburuti said: “This road has divided the town into two and this is not right at all. We must look at the interests of the people.”
Mr Wainaina said they were determined to protect the town.
“Let’s be careful lest we lose 100 while reaching for 50. This design will affect many people negatively,” said Mr Mutonya.
