The agencies responsible for constructing and maintaining roads in Garissa town are facing harsh criticism for alleged substandard work. Dubat Amey, the Chair of the National Livestock Marketing Council and also the chairman of the Garissa Farmers Federation, expressed disappointment with the quality of road construction over the years.
He specifically mentioned the Kenya National Highway Authority (KeNHA), the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA), and the Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KERA) as the three bodies responsible for road infrastructure.
Amey highlighted the poor state of roads across the county, particularly mentioning the Kona Punda stretch along the Garissa Madogo road, which has been repeatedly damaged by floods.
He questioned the seriousness of engineers and officials from KeNHA, emphasizing that the road had been repaired multiple times in a short span, indicating substandard work.
The frequent damage to the road, he noted, had significant consequences for local residents and businesses, leading to losses in revenue, especially for pastoralists unable to transport their animals to Nairobi.
Amey criticized the absence of proper drainage systems, attributing many road washouts to poor infrastructure planning. He emphasized the importance of pathways and culverts in road construction to prevent such issues.
Additionally, he raised concerns about the conduct of some road agency officials, accusing them of being absent from their duties and only making superficial appearances.
Amey called for urgent action to address the road infrastructure challenges, particularly advocating for the construction of a new bridge along the Garissa-Nairobi highway to mitigate flood-related issues.
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua had previously announced plans to invest Sh1.2 billion in constructing this bridge during a visit to Garissa last month to assess the flood situation.
