Ongata Rongai, Kitengela, Kiserian, and neighbouring residents of Kajiado County protested the poor condition of the roads in their area on Monday morning.
Despite making several commitments over the years and even designing the roads for tarmacking, they charged the Kajiado County Government with failing to perform its duties.
On Monday, villagers used rocks and tree branches to block various routes, including the Maasai Lodge-Kitengela Road, causing traffic problems. In addition, they set fire to tires as they swore to keep going until they received a guarantee from the government.
The demonstrations left trapped drivers and made it necessary for them to take detours to get to Magadi Road.
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Protesters burnt tyres and also blocked highways with large boulders.
Residents wrote the OCS Ongata Rongai Police Station last week asking for permission to peacefully protest and pressure the federal and local governments to rehabilitate the roads they claim are the root of the crippling traffic bottlenecks.
"Take notice that beginning on February 20, 2023, residents, members of the business community, and users of the roads in the Scheme Six, Kambi Moto, Kware, Maasai Lodge, Kitengela, and Rimpa Areas will be in Acacia, Oloosirkon, Sholinke, Olooltepes, Ole Kasasi, Pesha, and Kandisi. Stage demonstrations they wanted to let Kerra and the team know how they felt about the way and speed that they were moving.
Ministry of Roads and Transport is handling the situation of 65 km roads and Tuala Kitengela roads are being handled," a letter signed by Mr Julius Ongaro Otieno, the convenor of the protests, read.
The protest's purpose is to voice our dissatisfaction and highlight problems that the county administration must address immediately to prevent future action.
Mr Otieno initiated a petition in October 2022 asking the government to pave and enhance the Maasai Lodge-Kitengela Road. Almost 10,000 people signed it, filed following Article 119 of the Constitution and National Assembly Standing Order 202.
The locals assert that numerous attempts to contact the authorities have been unsuccessful.
According to Edward Ngure, a resident of Olekasasi Region, "some of these roads have been in such a disastrous situation for years yet the county government has done nothing about it thus far."
According to Daniel Onyango, a local, life in Kiserian and Ongata Rongai has essentially turned into a nightmare.
Another resident, Moses Kilonzo, said, "We want the Transport Cabinet Secretary to intervene and see that the one-lane Magadi Road expands to accommodate this area's rising population".
