The ongoing rains have wreaked havoc in a number of estates in Nairobi, leaving most roads flooded, muddied and impassable.
Residents say that the rains have led to flooding of important feeder roads in the estates, used to access shops, schools, hospitals or major bus stops.
Estates like Kayole, Dandora, Makadara, Soweto, Pipeline, Mukuru Kwa Njenga, sections of Imara Daima, Donholm, Umoja, Kariobangi, Tassia and many others have been affected.
Residents who spoke to Wananchi Reporting said that walking on the muddied and water-logged roads is difficult especially for children, people living with disability, the old and the sick.
Adelle Muthoni, a resident of Tassia, said she is often forced to carry an extra pair of shoes when going to work.
“The small road from my house to the bus stop is full of mud and pools of dirty water. My office shoes will definitely get wet, and soiled, and it can be embarrassing carrying all that matope to town, and to the office,” said Adelle.
Adelle says that although the rains are a blessing to farmers, it’s a great hindrance to life in the capital where people have to move a lot.
“It would help if some of these estate roads are tarmacked,” she says.
Geoffrey Omwamba, a resident of Soweto, said he often has to carry his little daughter on his shoulders when taking her to school.
“Parents with children are forced to use boda boda from the house to the bus stop to avoid wading through dirty water and mud. The riders charge between Ksh50 and Ksh100, which is expensive to most of us,” he said.
Other residents have raised concern over the poor state of hygiene; where mountains of garbage abandoned in the estates are getting mixed up with rain and sewerage, making the environment unbearable.
Residents now want the estate infrastructure, specifically the small roads, improved to ease movement of people and goods during the rainy season.
Many are worried that the issue has become a perennial concern that never seems to have a solution.
By Wananchi Reporter
