Governor, top State officials on the spot over Magadi Road
Kajiado Governor David Nkedianye at a past function. PHOTO | PONCIANO ODONGO | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
Residents put to task Governor David Nkedianye, especially over Magadi Road, which passes through Ongata Rongai and Kiserian towns.
Last week, residents of Ongata Rongai, which is jokingly known as “diaspora”, paid up to Sh500 from the city centre.
Residents on Tuesday demanded answers over the deplorable state of roads in the county at a stormy meeting at Osoita Lodge in Ongata Rongai.
Residents put to task Governor David Nkedianye, especially over Magadi Road, which passes through Ongata Rongai and Kiserian towns.
At the meeting that had representatives from the Kenya National Highways Authority(KeNHA), Kenya Rural Roads Authority (Kura) and the matatu sector, they lamented impassable roads and perennial traffic jams on the busy highway that links Magadi Town to Nairobi.
Led by their chairman Francis Parsimei, they particularly decried the state of Rimpa road as well as Gataka and Maasai Lodge junctions.
“One of the biggest problems is that some of the matatu crew behave with impunity and that has, in turn, made roads such as Magadi impassable,” he said and told matatu owners: “Do not become untouchable or protect each other when you know you are on the wrong.”
Matatu Welfare Association National Treasurer Lucy Wachuka said she will meet saccos operating in Kitengela with the view to creating a good working relationship with the county government.
“We have definitely heard the concerns of the governor and residents,” said Ms Wachuka.
"However, I would say that we have directed members of the public to report any errant driver so that disciplinary action can be taken against the individual."
She said the maximum fare from Nairobi should be Sh150.
Last week, residents of Ongata Rongai, which is jokingly known as “diaspora”, paid up to Sh500 from the city centre.
The governor led government officials present to personally respond to the issues raised.
KERRA Kajiado Regional Manager Timothy Karanja said grading of Gataka road in Kitengela will begin “in 10 days”, the timeline KeNHA Kajiado Regional Manager Henry Gakuru gave for works on shoulder roads on Magadi Road.
Officials also said repairs on the badly damaged Rimpa road will begin in 14 days so that it acts as a bypass through Ongata Rongai Town.
Ongata Rongai OCPD Cyrus Ringera pledged to act on errant drivers on Magadi Road.
