Salgaa town is definitely a name that is not only common but also prominent may be for the not so good reasons.
The small town is just some 30 kilometers from Nakuru town on the busy Nakuru- Eldoret highway, and is known among Kenyans for all the bad things.
Here are the three things that make Salgaa town rather ‘famous’ or let's say, infamous.
1. Alcoholism
Salgaa town is the melting point of alcoholism in Nakuru County because of it being a stopover for long distance truck drivers plying the Nairobi-Uganda route. Many truck drivers stop at this point to re-energize and refresh before proceeding with their long journeys. According to Titus Ngetich, a former area councillor, at least six out of 10 youth in the area are alcoholic, and majority of women and young girls use alcohol or other drugs.
2. Black spot
The famous Salgaa black spot has claimed many lives on the busy road, and this has made Salgaa a household name among Kenyans. Just last December, over eight lives were lost at the infamous black spot, something that made it to hit the headlines severally.
3. Prostitution
Salgaa can be referred to as the hub of commercial sex workers in Nakuru County, according to Sarah Nyamai, the Rongai constituency National Aids Control Council coordinator. Nyamai says the sex business at Salgaa is booming because of the presence of log distance truck drivers who stop over as well as rampant alcoholism.
She says prostitution has given Salgaa a bad name and has contributed to the high HIV/Aids prevalence at the center.