Mandago orders traders to vacate road reserves

Uasin Gishu Governor Jackson Mandago has ordered traders operating along road reserves to remove their structures or face eviction.

Mandago said it was unfortunate that some residents put up structures along road reserves even after they were cautioned against it.

He said his plan is to ensure the image of Eldoret town is changed completely to attract investors.

“When I became the county governor, the image of the town was terrible. That is why I came up with the idea of scrapping off structures on road reserves. But some people incited residents claiming that I was targeting certain communities,” said Mandago.

The governor also blamed the trend on some road engineers, saying they had failed to advice residents, especially those building along the roads. He said most traders or businessmen are innocent as they do not understand rules and regulations that cover public roads.

WHICH SCHOOL

“I don’t know which school you engineers went to. This is a very simple arithmetic that does not require the presence of the governor. I think if I am not wrong, you would have been the first to see this problem and warn these people because you know the distance one is supposed to keep from the road,” the governor said.

Mandago who was accompanied by his deputy Daniel Chemno, Cheptiret/ Kipchamo ward rep Josephine Tireito and the county executives, made the remarks while inspecting different roads in the region yesterday.

The deputy governor said his county had, from last month, started improving roads especially the ones used to transport farm produce.

He singled out roads like Rivatex Kipkaren- Kipkenyo, Kipchoge-Moi Girls, Magereza-Action, Kamkunji- Huruma among others.

POLITICAL SUPPORT

“I am confident that in three years we will be ranked among the best in terms of new developments but this can only happen when we get support from political leaders,” Chemno said.

Meanwhile, the governor has renounced accusations by the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) that his government has encroached on the institution’s land by constructing a road within its reserve.

The governor had been accused by KFS for allowing the construction of a road across its land in Eldoret.

Uasin Gishu County KFS Managing Conservator Paul Karanja said any infrastructural development that can enhance accessibility routes is welcome but in-depth consultations should have been done.

“The road in question here is a timely project that will help decongest Eldoret town which is experiencing a swell in traffic jams but for the sustainability of the optional route we should have engaged to attain a mutual agreement,” he said.

The five kilometre road is part of the Kapsaret Forest Reserve and needs to be protected, according to Mr Karanja.

Mandago, however, said the construction of the road is a forward-moving project and will continue as planned as his government’s analyses do not find anything wrong with it.