Women take over roads repair

By PETER OCHIENG

Women from Kiambaa and Jasho areas in Eldoret South constituency have come up with an initiative to repair roads to ease transport.

The women, who are voluntarily repairing roads within their villages, said they hope to get funding from relevant ministries.

They are using “Do-Nou” technology, initiated by a Japanese NGO, which involves use of gunny bags filled with sand and soil.

The technology is a cheap easy mode of road repair suitable for rural roads.

They said the roads had been in a poor state and have derailed development in the area.

“Our children get late for school because they walk for 10km to the main road,” Margaret Chebet, a villager said.

Ms Chebet said the condition of roads leading to their farms had made it difficult for them to transport their produce to the market.

“That is why we are contributing something small to enable us buy materials for roads,” she said.

When The Standard visited the area in Wareng District, Uasin Gishu County, some men were seen helping the women.

A village elder, Toriet arap Birech, was one of the few men who decided to join hands with the women, saying he was touched by their initiative.

 “I saw them doing the repairs. It is a shame for our women to do such a job. We have decided to join them but we are asking the Government to do something about this road,” said Birech.

He said the area is usually cut off especially during the rainy seasons as no public service vehicles or motorbikes can access it.

A Good Samaritan, Vesca Kangogo, contributed sacks and cash to boost the initiative.

Ms Kangogo called on the Government to empower women to undertake all types of jobs, saying they too were equal to the task.

She, however, asked the Ministry of Roads to fix rural roads in Uasin Gishu County.