Residents complain of shortage of parking bays within Murang’a town

Residents of Murang’a town have raised concern over shortage of parking bays within the town.
During a public participation forum held on Wednesday within the town, the residents complained about public service vehicles using parking bays because they could not fit in designated bus terminus.
They said that motorists have been forced to park their vehicles outside the town as there are limited spaces which most of times are occupied by matatus as they cannot be accommodated in designated bus termini.
The residents further complained of upsurge of hawkers who are also using parking bays to sell their merchandise.
Led by Francis Manyeki, the resident asked Murang’a Municipality Board to move in haste and lease idle parcels of land to create more parking spaces.
Manyeki said there are some pieces of land within the town which could be turned into parking spaces to ease congestion of vehicles currently witnessed in the town.
During the public participation organized by members of the municipal board, issues pertaining to uncollected garbage, malfunctioning flood lights and hawking of food featured prominently.
Hotel owners argued that there was need to have businesses regulated in the town, as hawking was a threat to licensed premises.
They said those operating hotels could be major losers as hawkers have been selling food outside their premises.
The business community proposed establishment of a municipal court to deal with petty offences and called for ban on food hawking within the town.
St James Cathedral ACK Provost Rev Jane Karanja said the county government should do more to improve the standards of Murang’a Mortuary.
“More attention should be on the cleanliness of the mortuary as the board looks into improvement of the compound used by the public,” said the provost.
The Board Chairman Mr. Benson Githinji assured residents that all their grievances will be looked into and standards of services improved.
He noted that the Municipal Board is currently implementing projects Urban Support programme which is funded by World Bank.
“I want to assure local residents that they will be fully involved in planning, garbage collection and beautification programmes,” added Githinji.
By Bernard Munyao