I would like to highlight the grave risks along the
Northern Bypass at the intersection with Kamiti Road (overpass).
The area commonly known as Githurai 44 Bypass stage is
a dangerous black spot with speeding vehicles hitting pedestrians every so often and
in some cases leading to fatalities. The intersection of those two major roads makes
the area a major bus stop for those making connections to various parts of the
city. Notably, there is also a busy murram road leading to Githurai 45 from
that very spot. When you study the area, it is crystal clear that the designers of the road did
not have a bus stop in mind if the small space between the road and drainage
trenches is anything to go by. For that reason, matatus have to share that
small space with tuktuks, motorbikes and a crowd of pedestrians and commuters especially
during peak hours. Most matatus notoriously stop with one of their sides literally
on the road. Oftentimes you will hear loud and scary emergency hooting by
trailers and lorries in risky near misses. Surprisingly, many drivers foolishly like to overtake at such a risky spot.
Accidents are a common occurrence. One case that pushed
my pain to the brim was last month when a girl was hit by a probox car in the
morning as she was crossing the road on her way to school. Good thing, the
driver quickly turned back and took her to hospital; but it could have been a
case of too little too late. A few days earlier, a bodaboda rider had been hit
by a Kahawa West PSV bus. As it is often the case, a battalion of bodaboda
operators were left baying for the bus driver’s blood and threatened to reduce
the bus to ashes. I couldn’t wait to see the end results. There are many more
cases and I believe the nearby Kiamumbi Police station could have more records.
It is thus my humble appeal to ask for a solution. First
and foremost, people should be keen when crossing the road. Second, KENHA, perhaps,
can construct an official bus stop or erect a series of speed bumps and rumble
strips along that risky stretch like it was done at Ngomongo junction a few
kilometers away. Police and other law enforcers can be present at the spot
during peak hours to control traffic flow and discipline errant drivers and
careless pedestrians the way they do at the nearby Marurui center. These and
other solutions can be of great help towards saving lives.
An armature video
and a photograph are enclosed.
By Njoroge Kiratu, Kahawa West
Twitter @onKiratu
