Residents of Oloika in Kajiado East subcounty have taken matters into their own hands by raising more than Sh400,000 for the repair and construction of the Acacia Access Road, which links them to the Nairobi-Namanga highway. Frustrated by inaction from the county government, the community launched a self-funded initiative to improve the 8-kilometre stretch.
Although estimates indicate that about Sh800,000 is required to bring the road to a perfect state, the residents opted to work with the available funds to ensure their daily activities are not disrupted, especially with the onset of the rainy season.
The road has been in poor condition for months, and repeated appeals to the area Member of County Assembly (MCA) for repairs have reportedly gone unanswered. According to Johnathan Shirim, chair of the local roads committee, residents have voiced their concerns at public participation forums, but no action has been taken.
“For a long time now, the state of the road has been pathetic. Every time it rains, it becomes impassable. Our children cannot go to school, we cannot go to work, and our farm produce, such as milk and vegetables, cannot reach the market. That is why we usually contribute funds for the repair of the road, as the county government has been neglecting us,” Shirim said.
He further disclosed that after their initial demonstrations, the area MCA allocated Sh4.3 million for the road, but the contractor performed substandard work. The community took legal action against the contractor, and the case is still pending in court.
Residents like Tipape Seyiai expressed their disappointment with the county government, highlighting the unfairness of raising funds for road repairs despite paying taxes. Bodaboda riders, including Eric Momanyi, lamented frequent motorcycle breakdowns due to the poor road conditions. Meanwhile, Elizabeth Nduta, another resident, noted that dust from the road during dry weather causes health issues, including eye irritation and respiratory problems.
The residents are now urging the Ministry of Roads and Transport to extend the tarmacking done last year on a 1.9-kilometre section by the Kenya Urban Roads Authority to cover the entire 7-kilometre stretch, permanently resolving their transport woes.
