Sh14 million lost in replacing vandalized guard rails
It costs the taxpayer Sh1.2 million every month to replace vandalised metals on Mombasa Road alone.
This translates to a Sh14.4 million repair bill in a year — money that the ministry of Transport and Infrastructure says could be channel towards improvement of the road network in the city estates.
As such the ministry is now mulling over the idea of replacing steel guardrails and road signs that the vandals’ love to steal with others made of alternative material.
By this, the ministry may finally stem vandalism that is driven by scrap metal demand in the city even as it calls stiff scrap metal laws.
“There has been increased theft of road signage and guardrails,” said Infrastructure Principal Secretary John Mosonik, last week. “We will conduct research to look for alternative materials to replace steel, which attracts vandals,” said Mr Mosonik.
The official attributed many road accidents in the county to the vandalism.
At the same time, he said, the government would upgrade the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport-Rironi Road.
Already, the Nairobi Western Ring Road and Eastern Bypass, commissioned to ease traffic, are fully operational.
Other roads under construction include the Nairobi Southern Bypass, Lang’ata Road as well as some improvements being done on roads in Upper Hill.
Some of the roads, such as Lang’ata, General Waruinge and First Avenue in Eastleigh, Mr Mosoni acknowledged, had taken too long to be completed. He said the completion had been hampered by legal tussles and obstructing structures in the case of Lang’ata Road.
The biggest hindrance in Eastleigh, he added, was the presence of sewer lines, underground and overhead electricity cables as well as traders and hawkers on the land intended for road construction.