Stop Calling Me Names, Kidero Warns Nairobi Residents As He Gives In To Pressure And Opens Roundabouts…But Why For Only 3 Days?

It has been a week of madness after traffic snarl ups in the city stretched up as far as Mlolongo on Mombasa Road, Limuru on Waiyaki and other places in the capital.

All this was thanks to the Nairobi County government’s decision to dismantle all roundabouts in major roads in the city in a move aimed at decongesting the city and easing up traffic.

Little did Kidero, the Nairobi County Governor, know that this move would greatly backfire as traffic piled, forcing commuters and drivers to cry foul and launch scathing complaints at the governor.

And after a week of pressure and abuses, Kidero finally gave in and started getting rid of his drums he had erected to block the roundabouts.

The return of the roundabouts had been instigated by the campaign #Kiderotakeawayyourdreams which had been started on social media to blast the governor for creating traffic jams in the name of easing them.

The governor said that they had reached the decision to open the blocked roundabouts because the Southern by-pass mostly used by trucks had been closed for rehabilitation.

But hold on. Do you know how long this will last? Well, Kidero says he has opened the roundabouts for only 3 days as he promises to close them after the by-pass is opened.

And by the way it is only the Bunyala Road and Lusaka Road roundabouts that have been opened. Westlands roundabout is still blocked.

The Governor has also urged residence to avoid name calling and abuses and encouraged constructive criticism that will help the city.

He said:

The grand plan that was released early this month to have five main roundabouts replaced with signalised intersections has not been abandoned.We are just reviewing strategy and tweaking plans, therefore, the plan for decongestion will not be abandoned. Once the work on the Southern bypass to make it motorable is completed by Friday the roundabouts will be closed. Trucks will not be allowed through the city via Uhuru highway. This will reduce traffic by 30%. Work on removing the roundabouts and putting in the relevant installations will begin in 10 days. We need more discipline and patience on our roads for us to achieve the traffic flow we all desire. Name calling and course language will not help the cause, constructive recommendations are welcome!

Well, do not celebrate yet. We have to wait and see if the governor means what he says.