By Abdimalik Hajir
Garissa Governor Nathif Jama paraded four national government officers in public to explain what they have done on what he said as ‘serious encroachment’ of road reserves.
Speaking at the county assembly during opening of new building, the governor called the officials from Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA), Kenya National Highway Authority (Kenha), Kenya Roads board (KRB) and Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA) to explain what their respective department have over the matter.
Each of the officials took time to explain with KURA official only identified as Okello saying they have given one month notice to all people who have encroached into road reserve adding that after the elapsing of the notice they will remove all structures.
He revealed that some places few meters have been left after people have encroached into the road reserve explained how private businesses have at some places taken almost road reserved.
Kenha Engineer Franklin Kipyator said a month ago they have done sensitization starting from Modika up to Madogoo junction giving the communities one month notice adding that they are waiting for contractor to starts works on beautification.
“We asked for collaboration and advice, we will work with all people to ensure the town is good for people of Garissa,” he said.
Governor Jama noted that although he had no issue with KeRRA but he will want them to work on roads in the rural areas.
The regional Director for KRB said while they don’t implement work for other agencies they oversee them and give them funding adding that these agencies are facing biggest of challenges of encroachment and drainage blockage.
”When give funding they are supposed to give us their work plan, will have a discussion with my team so they include corridor management in their plan, ” he said.
The Governor noted that after the elapse of the KURA, he will personally supervise the demolition of all shanties on the road reserve adding that the town has been turn into planless place.
”When the time comes I don’t want to hear any noise and nobody is going to intimidate me with courts because I’m now used to it,” said the seemingly angry governor.
He noted that some people took him to court when constructing stadium at Garissa primary land but the works in currently ongoing.
”you can’t encroach on road reserve and then go to court, we will demolish them then take me to court,” he added.
However in a quick reactions stall owners who were do businesses around the said places asked the governor to give them alternative areas to do their business.
”We are doing businesses in this place because we don’t have any other place, the governor need to be sensitive to hundreds of people who depends on such to ele a living,” noted Abdirahman Ahmed who owns a kiosk.
Garissa human rights network chairman Muktar Dahir Osman slam the governor and county administration claiming they have creating the current mess.
He alleged that it’s municipal who issued permit to have businesses operate on the road reserve adding that they ought to give these people alternative areas to do their businesses.
”The county should put their house in order before evicting innocent people, why did they issue permit in the first place?” he asked.
