Concerns over pedestrians safety after 'China Wall' at Salgaa

The 'China Wall' on the Nakuru-Eldoret Highway between Salgaa and Kibunja trading centres. [Harun Wathari]

People living along the Salgaa-Kibunja stretch on the Nakuru-Eldoret Highway have called on the government to construct footbridges for safe pedestrian crossing.

This came as the country joined the rest of the world in marking the UN Global Road Safety Week under the theme of “Leadership for Road Safety” aimed at generating a demand from the public for stronger leadership by speaking out on issues affecting them on the roads.

The residents pointed out that the newly constructed ‘China wall’ along the stretch to make it a dual carriage way has greatly reduced the number of accidents but has exposed pedestrians to other risks.

“We laud the government for expanding the road to a dual carriage way. Since the construction of the wall, we have not heard of head-on-collision accidents. However the wall has made it hard for pedestrians to cross the road,” said Rachael Maru.

Maru, a nominated MCA who is also a member of the Kenya Red Cross has been a first responder to most of the accidents that have claimed hundreds of lives in the past few years.

She said that it has been a tall order for them, especially school going children who cannot see oncoming traffic on the opposite side of the concrete barrier.

“We have children going to schools on opposite sides of the highway. The only points where a pedestrian can cross are at a few gaps left along the wall. Although the wall has made it safer for motorists, pedestrians have been exposed to risks of being ran over,” said Maru.

While calling on the Kenya National Highways Authority (KENHA) to construct foot bridges at intervals, Maru said that parents have been forced to accompany their children to and from school.

“Today, the children have to be accompanied by a teacher or a parent on their way to and from school. It has been tasking and dangerous in the absence of an adult,” said Maru.

Speaking to The Standard, KENHA Assistant Communication Director Charles Njogu said that erecting foot bridges along the stretch was not in the initial plan but the agency is coming up with ways of reducing accidents involving pedestrians along the highway.

“Once complete, we shall have proper markings and bumps at designated crossing points for safety of pedestrians. More improvements shall come in the long term plans,” said Njogu.

He added that the highway from Nairobi to Mau Summit area shall be expanded to a dual carriage way in the long term plan under a public-private partnership.

Meanwhile bodaboda operators in the county have called on the Ministries of Interior and that of Transport to give them more time to comply with the new regulations whose deadline had been set for May 1.

A spot check in the various sub counties indicated that majority of them have enrolled for the driving course to attain driving licences. Most of them have also subscribed to insurance covers which they earlier on ignored.

“If there shall be any crackdown, we appeal on the authorities to consider those who are still undergoing training. Many have enrolled for the driving course which takes up to two months,” said Patrick Mwaura, the chair for operators in Kaptembwo area.

The police are however yet to start enforcing the regulations among them use of reflector jackets and helmets for both the rider and the passenger. Some of the operators are still carrying more than one passenger against the law.