The horrific accident involving Modern Coast Bus Services at Nithi bridge on Sunday is a great socioeconomic loss to our country.
The matter should be investigated to establish claims that the driver had reported faulty brakes but was coerced to keep driving the bus.
While the occurrence appears to have been neutralised by the looming general elections, a few issues should be acted upon by the Ministry of Transport.
Some road designs are just death traps right from the day a road is commissioned.
For instance, in the yet-to-be-opened Eastern and Northern by-pass dual carriageway, the U-Turns have been created at the wrong places.
The contractor did not make considerations for residents who access the road from feeder roads and will exit or join the by-pass.
Such a one-sided view of infrastructure negates the purpose for which the road was done.
The best thing to do would be a roundabout or underpass at the following intersections, Kiguathi, Kibiku and Utawala road junctions.
Instead of constructing a climbing lane from Ruai towards Utawala junction, the contractor designed three lanes on the descending left side.
Moreover, one wonders why at the Nairobi Gate park a roundabout was created but on other sections, it is just dangerous U-turns.
We call upon the government to acquire lands adjacent to Ruai underpass to make the road design accident free.
There is a need for public participation between road users and communities to capture critical details and information that can be included or considered in road designs.
The way things are being done, we shall be spending more money re-doing roads which have been 'completed' as it happened along Mutindwa and GSU underpass in Outering dual carriageway.
Nairobi
Edited by Kiilu Damaris
