DEAR CITIZEN,THROW AWAY THE GUMBOOTS!

Its another season similar to Elnino which was last experienced over a decade ago. The rain is pouring very fast and furiously. Its also another day in the month of April that by fate and default  President Mwai Kibaki had to be in town.


It is all dreadful as the clouds get so dark and thick in a warning sight. In a cold breeze  Trafic Police seem to tighten security in all corners more than any other day. This is unusual to the common mans eye in any other normal day .


Traffic holds tight for all roads that lead in and out of town. People on foot seek for shelter and run around in helter and skelter within Nairobi's Central Business District.
Some fall into puddles of mud with trickles of leaked sewer streaming on the roads. While others loose their shoes over flooded drain systems that are clogged with debris.


At the tick of  5pm , President Kibaki slowly concludes and mesmerizes on the good deeds and efforts he initiated for the country's development during power. Among this was stabilizing "proper infrastructure" ; he mentions it with a pause and adds to the list of major highways and linking roads.


As a routine for appreciation, nearly all MP's stamp their feet in jubilation . Within the hard concrete of Parliament walls, they gleam through the TV screen in excitement .They are excited on the mention of infrastructure. Haiyaa!Our MP's seem content with their contributions for making the Kenyan roads a success.


I do not blame the president for those dreadful roads commonly pictured and seen in the media . Kudos to Kibaki for setting a visioned pace for development and still surviving an incompetent cabinet.


He has done his part but most definatley the representatives of those troubled Zones have done very little to make the road plague go away.


Its over a decade down the road but to date the "middle-class" citizens of SouthC are still swimming if not drowning along SouthC roads. Seriously?! what are the Councillors,MP's of that area doing? What is the community doing to complain about their situation?


Its become useless to use gamboots in some parts of Eastlands. The car sinks below the pot hole and the drainage system does not exist. Sewage has formed a natural cocktail with NWC's water from broken pipes and mud combined.


In  all roads that lead to Kayole, Umoja, Kangundo road, Embakasi estates and Donholm vehicles literally stall in potholed waters. Buses crowd  through narrow roads and hustling Kenyans glide deep through sewer cocktails, with no use of raincoats and boots in the rainy season.


The majority of Nairobi's population suffer the consequence of officials neglecting their duties. A problem that could be solved by the area MP, Councillor, NWC and  Nairobi City Council.  Poor drainage systems, unskilled city planning, harsh roads and neglected water services that mix with sewage are all in the hands of selected government officials in respective offices.



As President Kibaki wishes his next successor the best in governance, I wish citizens good luck in throwing away their gumboots and learning how to swim ,for this season and years to come. Roho juu!


Article: Opinion
All Photos: Courtesy of Senji Photos