Sakaja Reveals Why Nairobi Roads Are Dilapidated
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has removed himself from the blame for most of Nairobi County’s crumbling roadways.
In a television appearance on Wednesday, Sakaja blamed the division of powers between the National and County governments.
Sakaja noted that most roads in the country’s capital were either under the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) or the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA), therefore his administration lacked the financial resources to maintain them, despite worries about growing potholes.
“There is a division of functions between national government and county governments revenues and roads are classified,” he explained.
“When you go online, you will see national, county roads and international roads such as Uhuru Highway and Jogoo Road, which is an international trank road classified as A and so the work is under National Government.”
Johnson Sakaja: There’s been a big issue with the roads. I have seen many photos of cars flying off Jogoo Road saying Sakaja the dimples are on the roads instead of your face and I understand. I don’t have the resources for Jogoo Road for Argwings Kodhek, those are national… pic.twitter.com/2pfH6cGhVq
— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) December 18, 2024
Sakaja cited important highways such as Jogoo Road, Uhuru Highway, Arwings Kodhek, and Gitanga Road, which have mostly drawn criticism owing to their poor condition, are under the control and responsibility of the national roads authorities.
“I don’t have resources for Jogoo Road, Arwings Kodhek, many of these roads are national roads.”
Sakaja explained that politicians frequently prioritize rural roads in their areas over urban highways in Nairobi, resulting in the neglect of major routes such as Jogoo Road and Argwings Kodhek Road.
ALSO READ:
- United States Sets Travel Restriction On 3 Separate Dozens Of Countries
- Kenyan Police Killed, Another Wounded And Their Rifles Stolen in Mandera
- ‘Stop Early Campaigns!’ – Raila Tells Politicians
- ‘My Work Is In The Senate!’ – Senator Sifuna Speaks On Missing Ruto’s Nairobi Tour
- Autopsy Reveals Body Injuries On Man Killed By Ruto Motorcade’s Hit-And-Run
“What happens is that when an MP is given money for those roads through CDF, they will take the construction and development of these roads to the rural areas because no one would want to work on roads in Nairobi like Jogoo Road because the road is in touch with too many constituencies,” Sakaja explained.
Sakaja further noted that the government has already spent Sh5 billion to fix roads in the CBD, Jogoo Road, and Soweto Road in the Kayole district.
“The Urban Areas and Cities Act provides that for infrastructure in the capital, there must be cooperation between the national and county governments,” Sakaja said.
“We agreed on what should be done and have gotten about Sh5 billion to sort out the CBD roads and they also issued a tender for Jogoo Road under KURA, Soweto.”
Sakaja Reveals Why Nairobi Roads Are Dilapidated
