A GREATER SENSE OF URGENCY NEEDED IN ROAD CONSTRUCTION AND MANAGEMENT [Kenya]

A popular Kiswahili adage says mgala muue na haki umpe. This is a call ascribe due credit even to those that we generally do not find much good. All honest observers must appreciate the good work done by the Kenya Roads Board (KRB) in revamping our road network countrywide.

In congratulating themselves, KRB has proceeded to craft an advertisement that insinuates that work on roads has been extensive around the country. That this is far from the truth is exemplified by the swift reactions from those that are unfortunate enough to travel often to Lodwar and back to Kitale, those that live in Nyanza, Western, Eastern and Coast provinces. There’s no point mentioning North Eastern Province as this has become monotonous. It is important pursue egalitarian approaches when expending the common fund; tax money.

It is notable that many roads are being widened and a few flyovers being constructed. This will no doubt increase the throughput of vehicles, providing that these wide roads are not feeding to narrow city passes. The city authorities have done their bit in showing the way as far as continuous traffic flow is concerned. The nodes that impede smooth flow must be dealt with on our highways as well. What we need now is a paradigm shift in the design of roads. When does KRB plan to do away with archaic level crossings, junctions and roundabouts near metropolitan areas?
A recent report by researchers from the United States International University on the role of Private Public Partnership (PPP) was heavy on the exigency of attending to the city infrastructure. This, as the research leader, Dr. Francis Wambalaba, averred, is needed if the city will be restored to “a world class city”. This evokes the sense of a safe, sophisticated, fast moving metropolitan economy with only the minimum time spent moving from one point to another. This is certainly a distant dream with the growing menace of traffic snarl-ups everywhere in Nairobi, matatus plying the road shoulders while executing dangerous maneuvers and thus endangering the lives of many.

Another important aspect in the future of our road network is intrinsic safety. KRB needs to urgently adopt “Vision Zero” the international road safety policy direction based on the idea that serious injury and death on the road network should not be tolerated. This approach encourages sustainable engineering design and operation solutions that can prevent death and serious injury on the road network, in spite of human fallibility. Road carnage, such as witnesses in Narok recently, can not always be blamed on the road users Time tested design and management solutions being implemented successfully around the world are within our grasp.

Responsible roads authorities around the world appoint teams that help design safety into the roads. One such Safe Systems Working Group in Australia had as the first objective to “positively contribute to the design and construction of a “forgiving roadway” to prevent collisions where impact forces exceed the known limits of human tolerance resulting in death or serious injury.” This is what our money, maize and fuel guzzling parliamentarians should be agitating for. It is also worthwhile for the civil society to clamour for this as well. The gains are immediate, and we can enjoy more journeys that deliver us to the destination. On this one, KRB needs to exhibit a greater sense of urgency.

Meanwhile, kudos! KRB for what is already accomplished.