Local and foreign investors in Naivasha have decried the poor status of the busy Moi South Lake road which they claimed was hurting their businesses, including the hospitality sector and flower farms located around the lake.
This came even as details emerged that the government awarded sh.400m towards the rehabilitation of the road six months ago but the repair works were yet to be begin.
According to the investors, negligence by the government was also hurting other crucial sectors including energy as the road leads to geothermal rich area of Olkaria with a number of power plants owned by KenGen and the world renowned Hells gate national park located there.
The local investors and residents led by area MP, Jane Kihara petitioned President Kenyatta and the Cabinet Secretary for Transport to intervene and have the road repaired to save the various sectors from collapse.
Kihara told the press in Naivasha that the delay to repair the road may have been caused by selfish government officers letting the condition of the road to deteriorate by day.
She regretted that the large scale flower farmers and hoteliers around the lake were most affected by the poor status of the road despite generating a lot of revenue for the government through taxes.
“Through this road the government earns billions of shillings every year but for reasons better known by the road officers and the contractor the project has stalled,” she lamented.
The MP added that the pre-contract visit was done six months ago and the tender awarded but the contractor had not started the works.
Saying that nearly all flowers produced in Naivasha was transported through the road, the legislator called for seriousness among the concerned government departments end further frustrations among the investors.
The Kenya National Chambers of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) Naivasha Branch chairman, Stephen Thuo termed the road as an eyesore and a disgrace to the national government.
He said the number of international visitors who used the road on daily basis was high and wondered why the government had ignored it despite their appeals.
Matatu operators plying the route added their voice to the issue with their spokesperson Abel Kimotho claiming that the PSV drivers were being forced to hike their fares to meet the cost of maintaining their vehicles.
By Esther Mwangi/Brian Njoroge
