The Uasin Gishu government has completed the installation of traffic lights on major road junctions in Eldoret City to help control the flow of increasing vehicles.
The installation has been going on for the last three month. On Wednesday night, Governor Jonathan Bii inspected the progress as the lights were activated and synchronised ahead of the launch.
“This is a major step towards improving traffic flow and enhancing safety on our roads, especially with the Eldoret City CBD,” he said.
The governor urged drivers to familiarise themselves with the new system and to follow traffic signals responsibly.
Police estimate that the city has over 300,000 vehicles using the roads daily, more than 5,000 boda bodas and a day population of about 700,000.
About 30 years ago when Josiah Magut was the mayor of Eldoret municipality, he installed traffic lights in the town but they were switched off the same day after a series of accidents were reported at the various junctions as a result of local drivers failing to property interpret and use he lights.
The story then was that some drivers interpreted the red lights to mean danger and hence a signal for them to drive fast from the area, leading to accidents.
Governor Bii said installation of the lights is a major step to help deal with traffic jams in the city, which have become a common occurrence day and night.
“We now have a vibrant city with both day and night life and our people must begin to get used to the traffic lights and learn how to use them even before we commission the same."
Boda boda rider Jackson Kimeli said they were waiting to be told how they will use the traffic lights.
“We are used to riding around without stopping anywhere for long. We will have to be taught how to be patient when the lights are put into use because I am told one has to stop for long at times, yet we are not used to that.”
Long-distance drivers said they were used to traffic lights in Nairobi, while local matatu operators said they would have to learn how to use the lights.
Governor Bii is also targeting the improvement of infrastructure in Eldoret through construction of new roads that will open up traffic flow in the city and enhance trade.
Since the elevation of Eldoret to be Kenya’s fifth city, Bii’s administration has partnered with Kenya Urban Roads Authority and the World Bank to finance the new roads.
Bii said the new roads will give Eldoret a new face and and ease the movement of goods and Kenyans engaging in various economic activities in the region.
The new roads under construction will cost over Sh2 billion.
“Eldoret is a key economic hub in this region and once we complete the new roads, we will open up the city for an even better trade environment to benefit farmers among other residents,” Bii said.
