By Kevin Kipkoech
NAIROBI, KENYA: Even as the political dust settles and the Governor of Nairobi, Dr. Evans Kidero, rolls up his sleeves to work, I am optimistic that Nairobi will reclaim its past glory as the beautiful city in the sun.

Kidero must be fully aware that one of the priority plans to fix the City and bring it to its former glory is the urgent need to restore order in streets and estates.

Like the late British leader Margaret Thatcher, Kidero will need to exercise steely resolve to make unpopular decisions which will ultimately be good for the greater Nairobi.

One such decision is the need to demolish illegal structures dotted all over the City which have been an eyesore to residents. An excellent example is the urgent need to demolish structures surrounding Jogoo Road market adjacent to Uchumi Supermarket.

Having been an area resident for a while, I have, over the years, witnessed vendors ignore the wall confines of the market area and, instead, dangerously pitch sheds next to the busy Jogoo Road.

It is no wonder that accidents have become a common occurrence along the 300 metres stretch from St. Anne’s Primary School to the KCB flyover, with fatalities averaging two deaths every week. This is worsened by cars which are haphazardly parked by the side especially along the narrow off road leading to Jogoo Road Police Station.

Additionally, the area has become smelly, because of poor garbage disposal and an eyesore, thanks to the ugly polythene papers sheds everywhere. At night, one has to avoid walking close to the vibanda because of petty criminals lurking in the dark. A motorist was recently carjacked near the market barely two hundred meters away from the police station. My friend was almost carjacked in the area and was rescued by security guards nearby.

To demolish such illegal structures as the Jogoo Road shed market, the Governor will have overcome two chokers of order and change: endemic corruption in the County Hall and impunity that is common among us, big or small. I am glad he has begun by facing the enemy within - cleaning up the City Hall.

Kevin Kipkoech
Concerned Resident, Jogoo Road
kevinkipkoech1@gmail.com