This archive report was first published on 23 August 2020.
On a fateful day in August 2020, a resident of Elburgon in Nakuru County witnessed a tragic incident that has left a lasting impact on his community. The resident, who has chosen to remain anonymous, narrated an instance in which he saw a man die while being transported to hospital due to impassable roads.
According to the resident, the man was being taken to hospital by a boda boda rider when the vehicle got stuck in the mud due to the poor condition of the road. The resident, who was going about his business at the time, was shocked and saddened by the incident.
The road in question has been a subject of discussion between the national and county governments for over 10 years, with promises of tarmacking it being made repeatedly. However, the road remains in a deplorable state, with numerous potholes and a lack of maintenance.
The resident's account is a stark reminder of the devastating impact of poor roads on the community. The road network connecting towns in the area, including Marioshoni and Molo, has dilapidated, causing losses to farming families who reside in the region.
As the blame game between the state and other leaders continues over the loss of over Ksh43 billion meant to help the country deal with the first spreading Covid-19 virus, the resident's account serves as a poignant reminder of the need for accountability and action.
President Uhuru Kenyatta's administration has been praised for building 80,000 kilometres of roads between 2013 and 2018, increasing the length of tarmacked roads by 6,000km to 17,600km in 2018. However, a report by former Auditor General Edward Ouko revealed that the country loses an average of Ksh1 trillion every year to corruption.
