The Commission on Administrative Justice (Office of the Ombudsman) has issued a 7-day ultimatum to the Director General of the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) Silas Kinoti to address the poor state of some roads in Nairobi County.
In a statement on Thursday, December 5, the Office of the Ombudsman expressed concern that the poor state of the roads is a contributing factor to increased road accidents.
The commission further explained that the condition of the roads has an overall impact on the country's gross domestic product (GDP).
"Numerous videos circulating on various social media platforms have drawn attention to significant potholes, particularly on the routes connecting Jogoo Road to Landhies Road near Muthurwa Market, Soweto Masimba Road and the Kilimani and Upper Hill areas. Additionally, the commission has noted widespread flooding in Nairobi attributed to blocked, poorly maintained, or inadequate drainage systems.
"The commission expresses concern that the current state of the roads is a major contributing factor to increased road accidents leading to fatalities, injuries, property damage and severe traffic congestion, These issues have significant implications for the country's GDP and the overall welfare of Kenyan society," read part of the statement.
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The commission added, "In light of these concerns, the Commission requests that the Director General of the Kenya Urban Roads Authority provide a detailed response within seven days."
The Office of the Ombudsman wants the KURA Director General to provide an assessment report on the current state of the roads, detailing the severity of potholes, extent of road surface damage and condition of drainage systems and road markings.
It also wants the KURA boss to give a detailed timeline for planned maintenance and repair of the affected roads.
At the same time, the Office of the Ombudsman demanded Kinoti provide details of immediate measures to mitigate the risks posed by current road conditions, including temporary repairs or management strategies.
"According to Section 10 (2) (a) of the Kenya Roads Act, the Kenya Urban Roads Authority is mandated to construct, upgrade, rehabilitate, and maintain all public roads in cities and municipalities across Kenya, except for national roads,” the commission stated.
