As Umoja Estate continues to grow in leaps and bounds in terms of housing, one important factor in its sustainability that has been neglected are roads.
For an estate that was constructed with great planning in the 1970s but fell into disrepute along the way particularly mid 90s and 2000s, the weak-link has been the Nairobi City County, currently, Nairobi County Government (NCG) lands department.
The lands department of this corrupt tower that is now being replaced by military men whose only language is bulldoze to build, has erred in the past.
In Umoja estate, there are some buildings, both rental and business premises that have been placed right in the middle of what would have been a feeder road or a link road.
Imagine a well planned Umoja where vehicles, both PSV and private move freely; garbage trucks can access every inch of the estate and even fire trucks can access and put out fires.
Umoja News editor
In the bulldozing, I hope the NCG becomes responsible that only this spaces that have been taken up by such buildings should come down.
Umoja – Innercore has many roads, mostly un-tarmacked dirt roads full of garbage. These roads link to the Moi Drive that goes round this part of the Umoja estate and makes it easier for Passenger Service Vehicles (PSV) to serve residents of this great estate.
However, there are some roads which would have opened up Innercore to PSVs and private cars alike but they are blocked by buildings.
Below are some of this buildings.
Umoja News will update this article with more in part 2
One
Near former Jeska Supermarket, a new building that housed the now collapse Think Twice Second Hand Clothes supermarket is blocking exit and entry for cars into that section of Innercore behind it.
Two
Along Moi Drive as one goes towards Sango Pub or Oloiboni Supermarket, midway, there’s a building 480 Plaza that us blocking the easy entry and exit of cars into that section of Innercore.
Three
Just around Egesa Supermarket. There’s a concrete jungle with a wide road that constricts at a certain point as shown in the picture below. Parts of this house stands on the road.
Imagine a well planned Umoja where vehicle, both PSV and private move freely, garbage trucks can access every inch of the estate and even fire trucks can access and put out fires.
In the ongoing regeneration and reconstruction or facelifting of Nairobi, the country and national government’s should consider reorganising these.
In the old parts of Umoja, the circular arangements of houses complete with tarmack was a great idea. However, Umoja News is not suggesting bungalows, but the ‘skycrappers’ must also be served by good roads.
