The Runda Residents Association has objected to the construction of a link road to Kiambu, saying it is illegal and disastrous.
The construction of Kwaheri Road has been allowed by the Nairobi government and National Environment Management Authority.
The project, which started on January 21, 2018, had been stopped only to resume on January 17 this year.
“The road construction works commenced without public participation, through which Runda residents’ concerns would have been aired,” the association’s chairperson Helga Schroeder said.
“There are serious environmental and social concerns regarding the works being carried out as they are without an environmental assessment or audit.”
She said the road, if allowed to continue, will open traffic to Runda, which is already congested being an estate road that lacks the infrastructure to support the ever increasing traffic.
“Runda Road, the road to which traffic will open, is in a dilapidated state and more traffic will only worsen its state,” she said.
Of worry to the association is security, which they said will get worse as the road will provide a new and busy entry point from Kiambu to Nairobi.
Schroeder said the association understands that the link road has been enabled through the acquisition of private land, making the whole project illegal.
The residents accuse the county and Nema of inaction, despite several correspondences.
According to the Star, The association wrote to Governor Mike Sonko on January 8, 2018, requesting for a meeting, which did not materialise.
On January 23, 2018, they wrote to both Nema director general Geoffrey Wahungu and Nairobi Roads executive Mohammed Dagane raising its concerns about the road.
Neither Nema nor the Roads executive responded, despite various follow-ups.