Written by Protus Simiyu 2012-04-25 12:07:00 Read 588 Times

Motorists and bodaboda riders have raised concern over the pathetic state of roads in Bungoma town and its environs while blaming councilors for sleeping on their job.

The drivers and riders have singled out the Kiwanja Ndege -District hospital road as the most affected saying it is full of potholes. This is the road that flows traffic into the main street of Bungoma where most businesses are located. ‘’It is a pity that the road is marked for refilling but common sense has it that the road needs re-carpeting,’’ a motor bike rider said.

Motor bike riders, bicycle cyclists and motorists pointed out that following heavy rains being experienced in the region; feeder roads to the estates are now impassable while elected councilors remain oblivious of the real situation on the ground. They pointed out that the councilors are simply embezzling funds in readiness for the campaigns.

They said Marell, Mjini, Mandizini, Mashambani, Milimani and Sio are the most affected estates while calling on councilors of the respective areas to rise to the occasion and ensure the roads are repaired.

‘’We are encountering a lot of expenses to repair our vehicles, motor bikes and bicycles because of the poor state of the roads yet we are paying revenue to the municipal council and the Kenyan government at large,’’ they said.

 They also wondered the motive of spreading murram on the road at the Bungoma police station junction through Milimani estates towards the Deputy Provincial Commissioners Upper Western and Bungoma South District Commissioners residence up to Kiwanja ndege junction since the road was earmarked as tarmac.

‘’We understand there were potholes on the road but, the road is now impassable after the murram was spread, the municipality should come clear and explain if their intention is to re-carpet the road or turn it to a murram road,’’  the bodaboda operators who sought for anonymity charged.

In addition, the Bodaboda operators and motorists have threatened to withdraw their daily submission of revenue to the municipality until when the roads will be repaired.

The riders now want the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Local governments Musalia Mudavadi and his roads counterpart Franklin Bett to ensure money allocated to the councils are fully utilized on the intended projects to reduce the chances of tax payers money going into individuals pockets at the expense of development.

Motorists also raised complaints about the poor state of Bungoma- Chwele- Kimilili and Kamukuywa- Webuye roads while calling on MPs in the affected regions to engage the government and ensure the roads.

‘’The general elections are fast approaching and if the councilors are not going to reverse the state of our roads, then that will be one reason enough to vote them out come that time,’’ they asserted.

Last month stakeholders and human rights groups staged a peaceful demonstration subsequently locking up the offices of the Mayor and Town clerk for alleged misappropriation of taxpayers’ funds.

The stakeholders made it clear that there are no tangible projects in all the 8 wards within Bungoma municipality that were to be implemented during the last financial year.

Further, stakeholders and human rights organization were specific that every ward was allocated Sh. 2 Million to repair roads during the last financial year but nothing has been done up to date.

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