Comedian-cum-politician John Kiarie was the subject of harsh criticism on Monday, after Kikuyu area locals took to the streets, to demonstrate the pathetic state of transport infrastructure in their area.
Together with matatu operators, the locals blocked the Kikuyu-Dagoretti Road using stones, burning tyres, and planting banana stalks, in a bid to catch the government’s attention.
So heated were the protests, that the officers had to fire tear gas to disperse the bitter rioters who felt that their MP was distracted by other unimportant issues.
Apart from disrupting commuter activities, the protesting residents lamented that the sorry state of the road had also negatively impacted traders at the Kikuyu and Dagoretti Markets, who rely on the link to haul their produce.
Besides countless potholes, several sections of the once tarmacked road are flooded and extremely muddy, posing safety hazards for motorists, pedestrians and area residents.
This has been worsened by the ongoing heavy rainfall and flooding in the country.
Commuters using the busy road were stranded for several hours before police officers from Kabete Police Station were deployed to contain the situation.
