Construction of roads by the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) is being hampered by illegal and legal structures along the roads.
According to KURA, the success of constructing urban roads requires cooperation from all stakeholders including government institutions and members of the public.
KURA Director General Silas Kinoti told Hot News.
Kinoti said structures erected along the roads including sewer lines under KURA’s jurisdiction are some of the challenges they face as an agency.
“It takes long for members of the public to remove structures on the roads or underneath whether legal or illegal. This is despite compensation and long notices. This ends up delaying our projects.” Kinoti said.
He called on the public to heed vacation notices.
Kinoti said the road’s agency is committed towards implementing the president’s Big Four Agenda.
He said since the launching of Nairobi Regeneration Programme which focused on rehabilitating city roads, a total of 38 roads in Nairobi have been upgraded.
“Some of these roads were impassable during rainy seasons while others had deadly potholes.” Said the KURA boss.
Kinoti said he is happy with the ongoing construction of eleven footbridges on Outering Road.
He said they will go a long way in saving lives by making the road user-friendly.
He said many pedestrians have lost lives between Taj Mall and Ruaraka where the 13-kilometer road joins the Thika superhighway.
He appealed to pedestrians to use footbridges and designated crossing areas.
Mount Kenya Youth Caucas Chairman Linford Mutembei hailed KURA for creating jobs for youths through the agency’s projects.
He called on other government agencies to emulate KURA.
“One of the pillars of the Big four agenda includes food security and youths can only be food secure if they have jobs.” Mutembei said.