Donholm residents want perennial drainage problem addressed urgently

The ongoing rains have left residents of Donholm having to wade through a sea of water to reach their houses – or the bus stop

Residents say that the rains have rendered most of the estate roads impassable.

“It’s a common occurrence in this estate everytime it rains in Nairobi. The whole estate and the roads turn into a small lake,” said Shanice Mutheu, a resident who has lived in the estate for the last five years.

The area around Caltex, and the main Donholm–Jacaranda road was last evening swallowed in water – making movement very difficult for motorists and pedestrians.

According to residents, absence of a dedicated footpath has only added to their problems.

“It is difficult to walk on the side of the road because it gets muddy and slippery whenever it rains,” said Mutheu.

A section of the main road linking Denholm Caltex area to Savanna, up to Jacaranda recently underwent some works – which left fresh mounds of soil sitting on the side of the road – some of it covering what used to be the walkway.

The loose soil has now been soaked in the rain water, making walking a dangerous activity.

Residents the drainage lines in the estate improved – and proper footpaths introduced from Caltex stage, through Kisumu Ndogo and up to Jacaranda area.