Dagorreti South Member of Parliament John Kiarie was the subject of harsh criticism on Monday, after Kikuyu area locals took to the streets, to demonstrate the pathetic state of transport infrastructure in the area.
Together with matatu operators, the locals blocked the Kikuyu-Dagoretti Road using stones, burning tyres, and planting banana stalks, in a bid to catch the government’s attention.
So heated were the protests, that the officers had to fire tear gas to disperse the bitter rioters who felt that their MP was distracted by other unimportant issues.
Apart from disrupting commuter activities, the protesting residents lamented that the sorry state of the road had also negatively impacted traders at the Kikuyu and Dagoretti Markets, who rely on the link to haul their produce.
Besides countless potholes, several sections of the once tarmacked road are flooded and extremely muddy, posing safety hazards for motorists, pedestrians and area residents.
This has been worsened by the ongoing heavy rainfall and flooding in the country.
Commuters using the busy road were stranded for several hours before police officers from Kabete Police Station were deployed to contain the situation.
The Monday morning protests, however, served their purpose, and Kenya Urban Roads Authority reported to the scene soon after to provide temporary fixes, as a permanent solution is crafted.
Dagoratti mp. @KiarieJohn have responded after his angry residents closed Kikuyu road today.
Mhesi don't wait until your people reacts …..next thy will vote you out of that sit! via @kiliochahakii#KenyanTraffic @GhettoRadio895 pic.twitter.com/qCIeUKVHQi— KenyanTraffic (@KenyanTraffic) October 28, 2019
Kiambu County, which the road partly passes through, has in the recent past been on the spotlight for the pathetic state of roads across different sub-counties.
In June, Matathia residents, in the same county, held similar protests against the impassable state of roads leading towards the area.