Improving infrastructure in dagoretti sub-county

Radio report

Fridah Okachi

Since the Nairobi Metropolitan Services enactment, the entity has embarked on improving infrastructure within the city. Part of the NMS mandate was to construct pedestrian walkways and cycling lanes in different areas.

In February 2021, the agency commenced constructing new tarmac roads in both wards of Dagoretti North and Dagoretti South constituency to improve accessibility in the informal settlement.

The project will see 34 kilometres of roads constructed within Dagoretti South as part of a Ksh5.8 billion plan to upgrade 444 kilometres of access roads across informal settlements in Nairobi County.

Waithaka Member of County Assembly Anthony Kiragu Karanja confirmed that the project has already commenced in his ward, where he has been lobbying the 14 kilometres of a cabros road. However, the exact estimate of kilometres might be shared with the rest wards in the Dagoretti sub-county.

Kevin Onani, a resident at Marathon in the Riruta ward, says that before the road was muddy and the upgrade has improved the living conditions. Onani adds that even though the government is doing its part, heavy vehicles are misusing the road, causing damage.

Under the project, Kawangware ward and Kangemi will take 93.6 km. The ongoing project will also involve water supply and rehabilitating sewer lines as well as street lighting.

Upgrading and construction in the informal settlements and densely populated areas in the Nairobi project are distributed in 11 areas, including water supply, drainage relocation, and construction of road auxiliary street lamps.

This story was produced by Fridah Okachi at Mtaani Radio in partnership with Code for Africa, Kenya Community Media Network and the Catholic Media Council with support from the German Cooperation as a part of the Our County Our Responsibility project.