Muddy roads making life ‘a living hell’ in Nairobi estates

Most estate roads are submerged in pools of muddy water – making movement "a living hell" for the residents.

“It’s mud everywhere. One has to find half-submerged stones to step on and jump. It’s like a skip and jump competition,” says Maureen Wanjiru who lives in Kayole, Embakasi.

The most affected people are children – and people living with disability.

“This is what happens every time it rains in Nairobi. This is the capital city and so, I wonder why people still have to wade through mud in this age,” wondered Ms Wanjiru.

The muddy roads have become a common fixture in estates like Zimmerman, Kasarani, Githurai, Tassia, Kayole, Makadara, Mowlem, Kariobangi, Saika, sections of Pipeline estate, Donholm, Dandora, Umoja, Makadara, Eastleigh, Savannah and sections of Imara Daima.

Some residents say they have had to carry an extra pair of shoes to work because of the mud.

“I always leave my house wearing light rubber shoes – but then change into my official shoes once I arrive at work. I don’t want to carry all the mud from Zimmerman to Westlands,” said one the residents.

Others have had to use boda boda riders – who come to pick them from their homes – and take them to the bus stop where they board matatus to town.

A 2019 report by the Ministry of Transport, Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development had stressed the need for urban renewal in some select estates in Nairobi's Eastlands area.

According to the report, some the estates in Nairobi had old and insufficient infrastructure, obsolete plans, unplanned developments, environmental degradation and proliferation of slums.

Residents who spoke to Wananchi Reporting now want the national and county government of Nairobi to improve infrastructure in the estates; good roads, sewer system, drainage and garbage collection points.

Nairobi has been experiencing rains in the last few days. The rains are coming at a time when the country is grappling with long-running drought.