Nakuru town in 1963. The town has changed for the worst. [Photo/Travelstart Kenya]
Nakuru town, also known as Nax Vegas by the local community, is definitely one of the prettiest localities in not only the country but the entire East African region.
Boasting of its Lake Nakuru National Park, home to hundreds of beautiful flamingos, prehistorical sites and the volcanic Menengai mountain, no one can deny that Nakuru is indeed a darling to many.
A lakeside town with well-built structures, sidewalks, roadside trees to provide shade and home to all communities of Kenya, the town is likened to the United States' Las Vegas.
However, despite all that beauty, Nakuru is nothing as compared to what it used to be years ago, the town has sadly become one of the worst in a short time.
This is what Nakuru used to look like a few years ago
1. Well planned and organized
Nakuru used to be the best-planned town in the country. This is, however, a thing of the past, with developers putting up structures everywhere, including on top of sewer lines and on children's playing grounds and assembly points.
2. Clear and spacious
In 1999, one could easily observe what was happening at the Nakuru town Central Police Station while standing at Taidy's Hotel. However, with the coming up of bodabodas, whose operators have established stages at each and every junction, its no longer possible.
The streets are also crowded and unappealing and so are the residential areas and recreational parks.
3. Clean
It was once rated the number one cleanest town in East Africa but it is now among the dirtiest. This is partly to blame on the town's administration for poor sanitation services and the residents for reckless litter disposal.
4. Safe and secure
While young, we used to go out and play leaving the doors wide open without any fear. Don't try this right now as you might end up reporting burglary in one of the nearest police stations.
This has been propagated by the population increase which has resulted in a good number of the youth finding themselves jobless and broke.
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