Murkomen visits Southern Bypass hours after complaints of newly erected bumps causing accidents

Transport CS Kipchumba Murkomen. [Boniface Okendo, Standard]

Roads and Transport Ministry is yet again in the spotlight a day after it allegedly emerged that unmarked bumps were erected near the National Housing Corporation, along the Southern Bypass in Nairobi resulting in various fatal accidents overnight.

Several X users took to the social media platform to share images of accidents that occurred after motorists hit the bumps unknowingly since Wednesday, October 4.

Netizens lamented that no signage or markings were on the busy road that connects Mombasa Road to Kikuyu - Waiyaki Way.

"Whoever uses Southern bypass be aware. Kenya's finest engineers decided to put bumps on the highway. Already seen three accidents today… proceed with caution," X user Mutindi Mutua posted.

The same concern was raised by Ayub Gitonga on the social media platform asking why no warning signage was on site.

"KeNHA road bumps were very poorly erected along the Southern Bypass near NHC Langata. In less than 24 hours there have been 10 accidents and needless loss of life resulting from vehicles hitting these bumps at high speed. How many more must die?” he posed.

Dear @KeNHAKenya we've been asking for months now for you to reign in your shoddy contractor on Southern Bypass. A trailer rolled onto oncoming traffic this AM because of those hazardous unmarked kokoto bumps.
How many must die before you act?@Ma3Route @TransportKE pic.twitter.com/OlrMLs58Vq — Carol M. Nyaga. First of Her Name. #IStandWithKE (@CarolmNyaga) October 4, 2023

But, the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) through its communications department insists that the road has proper signage that was erected during the recarpeting of the Southern bypass.

"The issue is not signage; it is all about our driving habits. We can share images and videos of the 'Bumps ahead' signage from the Ngong interchange to Langata," Samuel Kumba told The Standard in a phone interview.

Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has responded to the issues hours after the complaints emerged, saying he will give feedback after his site visit.

"I am on site, I will revert," said Murkomen.