This archive report was first published on 20 May 2020.
On May 20, 2020, the Pokomo Lane Association in Nairobi's Industrial Area wrote to the Ethics and Ant-Corruption Commission, requesting an investigation into the construction of a Sh35 million Witu/Shimo la Tewa bridge by the Nairobi county government.
According to Samar Al-Kindy, an official of the Pokomo Lane Association, the construction of the bridge was approved without public participation. The association, which comprises over 10 companies operating in the area, had previously built their own road linking the companies, but it was demolished by the Nairobi County Government in January 2020.
Al-Kindy expressed concerns that the bridge's completion would increase insecurity in the area, as it would flood whenever it rains and attract hawkers and street kids. She called on Nairobi Metropolitan Service Director General Mohamed Badi to intervene in the project, citing potential negative impacts on local businesses.
“The bridge is built on a sewer line and whenever it rains, it floods and if its completed, it’s going to increase insecurity in this area because before they came to construct it, we had put a security barrier after thugs and street kids terrorised us here for long,” said Al-Kindy.
