Bottomless pits where millions fade without trace

By Steve Mkawale and Karanja Njoroge

Infrastructural development is one of the key planks of national development, and the Kibaki administration has been hailed for rolling out new roads.

But maintenance of existing roads in constituencies in the South and Central Rift regions is wanting.

A survey by The Standard in the two regions revealed that although the Constituency Development Committees have received billions of shillings to fix the roads, most of them are in pathetic state.

The Standard also established farmers incur huge loses, especially during the rainy seasons, due to impassable roads.

The cost of maintaining vehicles that ferry goods and services to the areas has also gone up, forcing transporters to charge the farmers exorbitant fares.

In the South Rift region, roads maintained by the Constituency Roads Committees (CRC) are in a very poor shape.

Tea farmers suffer huge loses, especially during rainy seasons when they cannot access factories easily.

Although the Kenya Tea Development Agency has tried to fix the problem through levies collected from farmers, the situation gets worse every rainy season.

In Narok County, poor infrastructure has not only affected the agricultural sector, but also threatens to halt the burgeoning tourism economy.

The dilapidated roads have greatly contributed to the insecurity in the region that almost scared away tourists visiting the world-famous Masai Mara Game Reserve.

Security agents in the area say armed robbers take advantage of the bad state of the roads to launch attacks on tourists when vehicles get stuck in the mud.

A motorist drives through a dilapidated section of a road in Nakuru town. [PHOTOS: BONIFACE THUKU]

In Nakuru County, the Constituency Roads Committees and local authorities spend most of their time trading accusations on who is supposed to construct or rehabilitate what roads.

Sorry state

Local businessmen and potential investors are worried that the town’s economic potential may not be fully exploited with the sorry state of roads.

In the nearby Naivasha District, the Provincial Administration had to seek an alternative route through the nearby Hells gate National Park. Ironically, in the current financial year, the Government released a whopping Sh5.7 billion for the rehabilitation and construction of roads across the country.

Each of the 210 constituencies receives Sh27 million through the Consistency Roads Committees.

So far, constituencies have received the first disbursement of Sh13 million.

In the last financial year the Government disbursed Sh4 billion to all the 210 constituencies, with each constituency receiving Sh19 million for improvement of rural access roads.

Roads Minister Franklin Bett is on record stating that MPs must monitor proper use of the funds.

He said although the ministry has ensured proper use of the roads funds in the past, MPs have an added responsibility of making sure that the funds are put to proper use.

The minister blames the bad state of rural feeder roads on rains.

"The rains are a hinderance to the maintenance of most rural roads," he says.

Bett says stringent measures have been put in place to ensure that the roads funds are put to proper use.

A recent UN report identified Nakuru as the fastest growing town in East Africa. But the road network in the township is in a horrible state. Motorists plying the smooth Nairobi-Nakuru highway may not realise it but once one branches off into the town, the streets into the estates are a nightmare.

Local businessmen and potential investors are worried that the town’s economic potential may not be fully exploited due to frustrating roads.

Worst Nightmare

This is in spite of the municipal council and the Constituency Development Fund dispensing millions of shillings every year towards maintenance of the roads in the town.

Among the worst affected roads, and which are virtually impassable in rainy seasons are those leading to the densely populated areas of the town.

The roads leading to the sprawling Kaptembwa, Kwa Rhoda, Barut and Githima estates are every motorist’s worst nightmare.

The town’s industrial area, which is a key cog in driving the town’s economy, has not been spared either. Investors with heavy-duty vehicles meander through the rough terrain.