Roads agency regrets billboard mayhem - PICTURES

A firefighter tries to dismantle the billboard that caused major traffic snarl along Waiyaki Way, Nairobi on October 29, 2013. The Kenya National highway Authority (Kenha) pulled it down saying it was an illegal structure. Photo/ JEFF ANGOTE

What you need to know:

  • The Kenya National Highways Authority said the billboard was pulled down because it was an illegal structure.
  • The operation “stretched beyond the anticipated timeframe” because the metallic billboard was heavier than estimated.

A government agency has apologised for causing a huge traffic snarl-up along Waiyaki Way in Nairobi after a billboard that was being removed blocked the road.

In a statement to newsrooms on Tuesday, the Kenya National Highways Authority said the operation “stretched beyond the anticipated timeframe” because the metallic billboard was heavier than estimated.

“Kenya National Highways Authority (KenHA) would like to take this opportunity to apologise to all motorists and road users who have been affected by the process of removing the illegal billboard structure constructed on its road reserve along Waiyaki Way.

“Kenha was acting in good faith in trying to protect public property, a function which is within its mandate,” Corporate Affairs Manager Charles Njogu said.

The

billboard that had been erected near the Safaricom headquarters just before the Westlands roundabout.

PROTEST ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Waiyaki Way is one of the three major highways besides Mombasa Road and Thika highway.

Although the agency noted that its teams were on the ground to speed up the removal of the billboard, Kenyans on social media protested at the inconvenience caused.

One @AtonyaStanley said on Twitter: “Because of their incompetence, #KENHA managed to inconvenience hundreds of people today on their way to work along Waiyaki Way.”

@Zakxmutugi said: “So KenHa didn’t see the billboard coming up on (sic) Waiyaki Way till yesterday? So much for being in-charge of highways.”