The Outering road expansion project has for long been hailed for reducing traffic jams that used to last over 1 hour, to just 10 minutes. – By Gerald Gekara.
However, pedestrians have come out to beckon the government over rising cases of accidents despite the provision of pedestrian footbridges.
Rush hour drives along the busy route have numerously ended in fatal accidents when residents choose to cross the massive 8 lane road. However, for one Caroline, the decision to risk their lives in the highway is far much better than the ‘filthy’ footbridges.
“Those footbridges harbour thieves, street families and hawkers who prey on residents as they cross. I’d rather risk my life here than get raped or stolen from by those people.” she said.
Caroline is a resident of Umoja, and frequently crosses the highway to access her business premises at Buruburu estate.
Her reasons are not far from the truth as motorists who frequent the area are forced to slow down in high pedestrian traffic just incase someone crosses the road.
Patrick Omamo, an Uber driver is however blaming the situation on an alleged laxity in enforcement.
“First of all before we blame the pedestrians for crossing the road, lets first ask are the bridges safe? Many of those bridges are kill zones and if you cross there, there is a less likely chance that you will make it with all your belongings.” Patrick added.
According to the regulations, hawkers, motorcycles and street families are prohibited from occupying footbridges and pedestrian walkways. Their hostile take over leaves the bridges neglected, destroyed for parts and in some instances a den of thieves.
Residents along the busy road now want the government to consider keeping pedestrian ways safe and well maintained inorder to avert accidents along the highways.
