Ongoing road projects in Migori County have become a nightmare to many homes and business places in regards to provision of access links, with the hardest hit being those near market and town centres.
The construction of the Kisii/Migori/Isebania highway has presented itself as a major stumbling block to free access to homes after galleys were dug in points connecting the highway to homes, estates and business places.
With the links destroyed in a bid to improve on the road drainage system, many residents have now been completely cut-off from the highway and are now forced to walk, drive, or ride many kilomters around the villages to reach their places of abodes.
According to the residents, the companies involved in implementing the multi-billions shillings’ projects have refused to pay attention to their cries and request for provision of culverts to connect their original access paths and roads with the highway.
“In places where culverts have been placed, the companies have not been fast enough to refill them for smooth movement of the residents,” claimed a resident, Samwel Otieno, whose home has remained inaccessible to or from the highway for two years now.
Some of the culverts placed to connect homes, estates and business joints along the stretch of the highway have created water ponds because no back-earth-refilling has been done.
As a result, the waterlogged culverts have become mosquito breeding points in the region, exposing residents to endless attacks by malaria, bilharzia and other water bone ailments.
The water logged culverts have also become a den of poisonous reptiles like snakes and pose serious danger to children who are likely to drawn in them.
Mr. Collins Owino, a businessman from Oyani trading centre, says his shop cannot be easily accessed by customers because the culvert dug to connect it has not been done well.
“My customers have to go round corridors to access my shop. And even lorries supplying my stocks have to off-load the goods far from the shop making the whole business costly to me,” rued Owino who appealed to the Kenya Highways Authority (KenHa), the road client, to ensure the contractor moves fast to remedy their problem.
Similar problems are also witnessed by many residents in Nyatike, Awendo, Kuria West and Kuria East Sub-Counties where many road projects are also being implemented at the moment.
The Kakrao-Junction by-pass currently at about 70 per cent completion is one among many road works giving residents nightmares in regards to access links to homes.
Attempts by reporters to get an explanation on the slow placement of culverts connecting homes and the road proved futile as the supervisor directed such questions to the Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KERRA) officials who could not be reached in their offices or by phone.
