Residents of Ongata Rongai, Kitengela, Kiserian and adjacent areas in Kajiado County held protests on Monday morning over the deplorable state of roads in their region.
They accused the Kajiado County Government of neglecting its duty despite making several promises over the years and even earmarking the roads for tarmacking.
On Monday, traffic was disrupted as residents blocked several roads, including the the Maasai Lodge-Kitengela Road, using stones and tree branches. They also burned tyres as they vowed not to relent until they are assured by the government that the road.
Motorists were left stranded by the demos that made the roads inaccessible, forcing them to use alternative routes to access Magadi Road.
Protesters could be seen burning tyres and barricading roads with huge rocks.
Last week, residents wrote to the OCS Ongata Rongai Police Station seeking permission to peacefully demonstrate and force the national and county governments to improve roads that they say are the cause of debilitating traffic jams.
“Take notice that the residents, business community, and road users of Acacia, Oloosirkon, Sholinke, Olooltepes, Ole Kasasi, Pesha, Kandisi, Scheme six, Kambi Moto, Kware, Maasai Lodge, Kitengela and Rimpa Areas will hold demonstrations starting February 20, 2023, to express the displeasure, dissatisfaction and annoyance at the way and pace at which the issue of infrastructure, namely, stalled 65kms of roads and Tuala Kitengela roads are being handled by Kerra and the Ministry of Roads and Transport,” a letter signed by Mr Julius Ongaro Otieno, the convenor of the protests.
“The aim of the protest is to register our discontent and present issues that the county government needs to act on immediately to avoid further action.” BY DAILY NATION