Businesspersons at Salgaa Trading centre in Rongai sub-county have faulted the County government of Nakuru over what they term is neglect of the busy trading centre despite the enormous contribution it has towards the economy of Nakuru.
Salgaa sits on a trans-national highway used by long-haul cargo vehicles headed to DR Congo, Uganda, Rwanda and South Sudan.
It is a stopover for drivers and neighbours several learning institutions. It has wholesale outlets, restaurants, clubs and bars.
Addressing media at the centre on Tuesday, the business community said both the current county government as well as the previous one seems to have neglected the centre.
They cited the poor infrastructure and drainage as one area that the county government has failed to address despite the issues being raised severally.
Led by their Chairman Livingstone Sawe, the business persons are raising questions as to why the contractor who was assigned the Salgaa-Elburgon road has disappeared after doing a shoddy job.
A spot check on the road shows the drainage system in poor condition with the work done already being messed up with the stormwater.
The road from Salgaa to Elburgon is paramount to the business people in the area as it is a connection between the potato farmers from Molo and the Salgaa trading centre which serves as a transit.
The contractor who is nowhere to be seen has also left heaps of soil making it difficult for the business to operate as it has diverted the flow of stormwater to the doorsteps of their businesses.
“We are just wondering why the county government has neglected this area this much. We hope they will act soon,” said Sawe.
Similar sentiments echoed by Andrew Koros who resides and operates a business in the area.
According to Koros, the promise made by President Uhuru Kenyatta concerning the construction and tarmacking of the Elburgon-Salgaa Road up to Kampi ya moto is yet to be fulfilled.
“We have raised issues severally concerning this town but when we talk, we are told the matters are in pipeline and that we should be patient,” said Koros.
Area MCA Daniel Mutai, however, defended himself over the concerns raised by the business people saying the delays in the implementations of the infrastructure projects in the area is due to the challenges the county is facing citing the impeachment of Nakuru CEC for infrastructure Eng Lucy Kariuki.
On the stalled work on the Elburgon-Salgaa-Kampi ya Moto road, the MCA stated that the work could not go on as the contractors faced challenges of bad weather conditions.
“The work stalled due to poor weather conditions but one thing I am sure of is that the contractor has not been paid any single coin. But as a county, we have also had challenges with the roads docket but the work will be complete,” Mutai said.
Nakuru Governor Lee Kinyanjui has on many occasions stated that Salgaa centre which is 30 kilometres from Nakuru town will benefit as the county's capital, Nakuru, prepares to become a city.
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