Residents lament over poor state of roads in Syokimau

Residents in Syokimau, Machakos County are bearing the brunt, grappling with flooded roads.

With the rainy season persisting into the month of December, locals have been forced to take longer routes due to the sorry state of roads.

The most affected are Kiungani road, Notre Dame Link road and roads leading to Mama Round, Kalembe stage and Katani stage.

“Going to work is a sport in its own right. We are forced to leave our cars meters away from home,” a resident said.

Plying the aforementioned routes takes courage, as one can easily lose balance and fall into the stagnant water.

At the same time, bodaboda operators can barely access the estates, dealing a huge blow to their businesses.

“We now have to reduce the normal rates due to the shortened distance of commuting,” Evans Barasa, a bodaboda rider, said.

According to locals, road works kicked off in July this year but the contractor is yet to finish up.

“The rains slowed down the process but this is becoming unbearable. Our kids can barely move around, ”a frustrated resident added.

A spot check by Citizen Digital revealed a poor road network, with road users throwing caution to the wind.

Paddles of water have taken the shape of mini man-made lakes as the rains continue pounding the region.

“This should be treated as an emergency situation. In no time, we will be talking about diseases and other natural calamities.”

Locals have appealed to the relevant bodies to address the matter.