Stop burning tyres on roads, Kenha tells protesters
Kenha chairman Erastus Mwongera addressing journalists in Nairobi on October 17, 2017. He has said the agency will spend millions to repair roads damaged during Nasa protests. PHOTO | DIANA NGILA | NATION MEDIA GROUP
A roads agency has warned that it could be forced to spend millions of shillings to repair highways damaged during protests.
Kenya National Highways Authority Chairman Erastus Mwongera on Tuesday said the countrywide demonstrations by the opposition against the electoral commission risks damaging most highways.
Kenha says roads have been damaged by burning of tyres on roads during demos.
The authority, he said, has commenced an assessment of the damage caused so far, to ascertain the costs of repair.
Demonstrators light bonfires at Kondele roundabout in Kisumu on October 16, 2017. PHOTO | ONDARI OGEGA | NATION MEDIA GROUP
Mr Mwongera said most roads are made using bitumen, a component of petroleum, which is prone to melting on high temperatures. Tyres, also have traces of petroleum and accelerate burning.
“Since the announcement of the elections results on August 11, we have witnessed a number of demonstrations, with protestors burning tyres and wood on the roads,” the chairman told journalists in Nairobi on Tuesday.
According to Mr Mwongera, while the construction of a one kilometres of road could cost Sh 1 million to repair.
Anti-IEBC protestors have been lighting bonfires on major roads.
