Residents of Maili Saba area in Laikipia West Constituency took to the streets on Wednesday morning to protest against what they said was an investor’s move to block access to a vital access road to their neighbourhood.
The residents claimed that the investor bought the land from a local and proceeded to fence it, including a pathway connecting the area to the main shopping centre.
The group said that the pathway is a public road and blocking it denies villagers access to Maili Saba shopping centre.
Led by David Ntwiga and Francis Njega, the residents said they have been forced to use a longer route to and from their homes to access the shopping centre.
They added that the road had been cleared following intervention by the government, but later the investor moved in and closed it off before he started cultivating his land.
“The investor is violating a previous agreement to leave a 12-foot-wide passage for public usage. How will we be able to access crucial services such as the dispensary, when we have to use alternative longer routes?” Ntwiga said.
Paul Koech and Ruth Elal, both longtime residents in the area, voiced their dissatisfaction, pointing out that they had been commuting to work and dropping their kids off at school using the closed route for decades.
“How can a public road be blocked?” Koech asked.
He added, “Other investors in the area have allowed for public passage routes for peaceful coexistence.”
The residents decried that expectant mothers and sick children have faced hardships with the route being closed, and called on the authorities to intervene.
Efforts by the group to seek audience with the investor did not bear fruit as he was unreachable.
However, local administrators said they were planning a public meeting where residents would air their grievances and have the matter addressed.
