This archive report was first published on 18 November 2021.
Ngong Road, a major thoroughfare in Nairobi, has been plagued by accidents due to a lack of road signs and proper lighting. Motorists have been protesting over the dangerous stretch from Dagoreti bridge to Lenana area, which has been a hotspot for accidents.
According to motorists, the section of the road lacks road signs to show the two U-turns, making it difficult for drivers to navigate safely. The situation is worsened at night when oncoming drivers put on full lights, which can be blinding.
"There is no signage on the road and as you slow down to take a U-turn, you can easily be hit from behind. It's worse at night when an oncoming driver puts on full lights which can be blinding," said Michael Shikanda, a motorist.
Residents of the area have also expressed concerns over the narrow lanes, which make it difficult for vehicles to pass each other safely. "This area should have been expanded because there is a large empty space between the road, yet the lanes are so squeezed," said Hellen Okapesi, a resident of Racecourse area.
However, the Kenya Urban Roads Agency (KURA) has moved to rectify the situation. The agency has removed the protruding sections that were causing accidents and erected a speed bump to slow down motorists.
"We are improving the area by removing the 'island' which gave motorists an illusion that the road is continuous," said John Cheboi, KURA chief corporate communications officer. "Signage will be part of the improvement not only at the area but along the entire road," added Cheboi.
On Monday, angry motorists put up a makeshift road block at Racecourse area to warn other road users of the dangers of the stretch. However, by Monday evening, a speed bump had been erected in the area to slow down motorists.
