Confrontation Erupts as Residents Suffer Amid Road Construction

Kisii,

Monday October 2, 2023

KNA by Misheba Alfred

In an unfortunate turn of events for residents residing along the Ogembo - Nyamasege route in Gucha Kisii County, a road construction project has plunged them into darkness for a week.

The construction effort, originally aimed at enhancing the region's infrastructure, faced an unexpected obstacle when excavation work, compounded by the region's prevailing windy conditions during the current rainy season, resulted in the falling of electricity poles along the route.

The situation escalated as Kenya Power Company, South Nyanza regional chief security officer, Lagat Kiptoo, demanded accountability from those responsible for the road development. 

During a routine patrol, Kiptoo expressed displeasure at the damaged infrastructure and demanded that the engineer in charge of the road construction be charged for damage to critical infrastructure under the Energy Act of 2019. 

“The engineer in charge of the road construction should be held accountable for the damage caused, this is a violation of the law. The cost of repairs will not be less than Sh 500,000. Responsibility for these costs should lie with the contractor overseeing the road construction,” he insisted. 

However, this demand for accountability led to a heated confrontation between the road workers on site and KP chief security officer. The workers defended their lead engineer, claiming that it was not within his powers to relocate or protect the electricity poles. 

The disagreement resulted in a brief halt of the road construction work, causing a delay of nearly an hour as both parties engaged intensely. The incident has been officially reported. 

Addressing the matter, Gucha police boss Christine Amaya called on the involved parties to seek an amicable resolution.

She stressed the importance of fostering positive working relations to ensure timely completion of the road construction project without further disruptions to other government services and facilities.

This, she emphasized, is crucial for the overall benefit of the affected residents eagerly anticipating the completion of the road project.

Courtesy; KNA