This archive report was first published on 2 December 2019.
On Monday morning, residents of Fedha and Nyayo estates in Embakasi, Nairobi, staged a demonstration over the poor state of their roads. The protesters, who were angry over the dilapidated roads, barricaded the Outering Road with stones, causing partial paralysis of transport in the area.
Photos shared on social media showed the extent of the damage, with holes of varying sizes and shapes filled with water after the heavy downpour over the weekend. The protesters even planted a banana tree in one of the holes, creating a dark humor spectacle.
According to the protesters, Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko had allocated funds to repair the road, but the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) had informed them that the road was an 'orphan road' and required additional funding. The protesters urged Governor Sonko to follow up on the matter and ensure that the county allocates funds for the repair of the potholed road.
Another resident claimed that insecurity had been rampant along the Fedha-Nyayo road due to robbers taking advantage of vehicles' slow speed on the road to execute theft. He attributed the dilapidation of the road to the Chinese constructing the Outering road, who ferry their heavy machines through the Fedha-Nyayo road.
Police were quick to quell the demonstrations, which were gradually turning violent. The protesters blamed Governor Sonko for being oblivious to their appeal for a better road.
