Sh100m town bus park in ruins, turned into hideout for criminals

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A section of the incomplete Kisumu main bus park. [Michael Mute, Standard]

The planned Sh100 million bus park at Molem is lying in ruins after it was abandoned by the devolved government.

The county government settled on the site along the Kisumu-Nairobi highway for the project that was meant to ease congestion at the main bus park.

The multi-million bus park, whose construction began more than four years ago, has been vandalised while almost its entire perimeter fence has been brought down.

So bad is the situation at the bus park that the abandoned buildings have turned into hideout for criminals.

Wednesday, residents told The Standard that failure by authorities to make the facility operational has affected their activities and described it as a waste of taxpayer's money.

Alex Otieno said he was hopeful about getting a job opportunity once the facility was up and running.

"This project was going to create thousands of job opportunities for our unemployed youths. It is very unfortunate that it is wasting away due to lack of proper funding," said Otieno.

Similarly, John Ouma said he was disappointed because of the failure by the county government to make the facility operational.

"It seems like the county gave up on this project a long time ago and they don't care what happens to it anymore," he said.

City Manager Abala Wanga said the project was put on hold due to lack of sufficient funding.

He urged residents to stop vandalising government property meant to benefit them.

"There were issues of funding which have led to the delay in the launch of the project but the matter is being resolved," he said.

He said the project was 90 percent complete.