The shs.50 million Kenya Power street lighting project between Sagana and Samson Corner areas in Kirinyaga may not serve the intended purpose following vandalism by unknown people.
Some sections of the area between Kagio town and Njegas have no lamps raising a big corncern from the local leaders.
James Mureithi Kang’ara, an elder from the area said it beats logic why some people would vandalise the street lighting which was installed to assist the members of the public.
Kang’ara who is the County Jubilee Party Vice Chair and a Director with Tana Athi Water Services Board said police should move fast and arrest the culprits to save the project from eminent collapse.
“I am also asking the Boda Boda people who operate along the route to be on the lookout and report to the police if they find anyone interfering with the street lights.
He said the community living along the route must own up the project and make sure they work with the security personnel in curbing the menace.
“I do not want to believe some reports that some politicians could be behind the dirty work to make the project fail in an attempt to discredit those who were behind it,” Kang’ara said.
He said leaders must be willing to support one another in the realization of development projects in the area.
“Let the street lights be in place, those who will come later will have their opportunity to initiate their projects
elsewhere, but let us not destroy what we already have,” he said.
He said police must come up with a strategy of making sure that they have nabbed those behind the vandalism.
The Kenya Power company spent shs.50 million in February this year in the installation of the street lights in preparation for the Devolution Conference which took place in Kirinyaga.
Operationalization of the street project was also envisaged to enable the residents benefit from 24 four hour economy despite also making the area safe.
By Irungu Mwangi
