A section of boda boda operators at Furfural trading centre in Kongoni ward paralyzed transport activities in the area when they started demonstrations over the state of roads in the area. Flashing protest placards and twigs, the demonstrators condemned area leaders and the county government of Kakamega, accusing them of failing to rehabilitate several roads, which have been rendered impassable as a result of the current downpour.
According to the boda boda riders, some of the impassable roads include sections
between Furfural and Soy sambu and Furfural to St. Teresa.
The protestors singled out area Member of County Assembly Mr. Robert
Makhanu who was accused of failing to honour his development promises.
“Our MCA has on numerous occasions promised to rehabilitate some of
the roads within this ward but has so far fulfilled none of the
pledges,” said one of the protesters who highlighted some of the
challenges the group was experiencing as a result of deplorable state
of the roads.
“Besides losing lives and property including motorbikes to muggers,
many of us have been involved in fatal accidents, injuring passengers
due to the poor state of our roads,” the protester added.
One of the protesters narrated to the media a past experience in which
he allegedly was unable to help a woman who was in labor pains access
a nearby medical facility. “I helplessly watched as the woman struggled and delivered a baby by the roadside,” recalled the boda boda rider. According to the boda boda operators, some of their colleagues are unable to fend for their families after they were left with lifetime deformities attributed to road hazards.
The protesters, who were later in the day joined by area residents,
dug wide trenches and planted banana stems and other crops across
sections of the muddied roads.
Police officers intervened and managed calmed down the protesters. However, they told journalists they will step up the protests until when the county government will address their grievances.