The National transport Safety Authority Chairman, Lee Kinyanjui has expressed fears that the construction of the 52 kiosks on the Shabab roundabout could be disastrous in case of an accident
Speaking in an exclusive interview Kinyanjui pointed out that the county should have put more consideration into the safety of the road users before they allowed the construction.
“Anything that limits your visibility is not right. A round-about means that people have to slow down hence can lead to reduced reaction time for a driver. The most they can do is landscaping. The Big kiosk obstruct the view compromises visibility and hence can lead it becomes a problem.
Kinyanjui pointed out that kiosks should be in designated areas to prevent accidents.
He claimed that they will analyze the accidents from the traffic department.
“We have also seen scenarios where drivers come and crush into round about and hence lead to unnecessary deaths,” he added
Engineer Victor Ngatia, a youth leader pointed out that the kiosk provision is brilliant but the execution is the problem.
“We have lands earmarked for market why do we then grab the market or fail to develop it and then start doing kiosks all over the ward?” he added
Ngatia pointed out that the roundabout is an interchange and the view for the motorized traffic is paramount.
Secondly motorized traffic should be very low or none on such an interchange. The kiosks provided, now increase the motorized traffic which then jeopardizes the interchange purpose by increasing risk and reducing visibility.
“I feel that the kiosk should not have been approved in the first place.” He added
Shabab MCA, Daniel Kamau pointed out that they had gone through all the legal requirements and got relevant approval from the authorities.
“We were given a go ahead by The Ministry of Roads and Even NEMA. However the instructions claim that we were to build the kiosks 50 meters away from the start of the round about,” he added