Drama was witnessed at Manyani TM Junction in Kivumbini Ward on Wednesday March 12 as a youth held a contrary stand with elders who wanted the ongoing construction and tarmacking of Kalewa Road to stop.
The elders led by area village elder Stanley Kinuthia wanted a halt of the ongoing work until the contractor demolishes some houses that border the road.
However their move faced opposition from angry youth from the area who felt the elders were enemies of development.
Addressing press, the youth led by Allan Origa, Ramadhan Karori, Abel Odhiambo and Zack Adabwa, they said it was wrong for the elders to derail development.
They added that this is the first time that tarmack road is making way into Manyani estate and such development should be welcomed by all.
During the meeting that turned sour, the youth made a declaration that they will not allow anyone to hinder development. They added that instead of delaying the project, there best option was to move the power poles and allow the construction to go on.
“We need this project like yesterday and we shall not allow any roadblocks to development,” they stated in their declaration.
The move saw the elders walk away disgusted as what they thought would be suspension of the project had failed.
Earlier on in an interview with one of the local administrators, it was clear that the meeting called by elders was meant to block the road over personal interests.
The administrator added that they cannot be part of any meeting to oppose development adding that it was already agreed in previous meetings that the construction of the road should go on.
It should be noted that the said Kalewa Road is being constructed by Kenya Urban Roads Authority.
The road project is one of the roads that were lobbied by area MP David Gikaria together with other leaders among them Kivumbini Ward MCA Neto Sakwa, and it connects to Mombasa Road and Kinuthia Mbugua Road.
Author: Pristone Mambili
A trained Journalist with passion for Radio and online Writing.