Passengers on the Marakwet - Eldoret route were on Wednesday stranded after matatu operators in that route went on strike protesting over bad roads. Speaking in Eldoret town on Wednesday, Mr Thomas Chelang’a, the Kapsowar shuttle Sacco chairperson, said that they were protesting the poor infrastructure in the region. He lamented that the Kenya Rural Roads Authority together with the office of the county engineer Mr. Enoch Cheserek have done little to speed up Iten-Kapsowar road construction. He said it has taken the contractor six years to construct approximately two kilometres of the road. “We will not change our minds unless the road is constructed. We have met MCAs many times but nothing has been done,” said Chelang’a. The strike kicked off on Tuesday after negotiations meeting between matatu owners, Sacco officials, drivers and conductors with county leaders led by Elgeyo-marakwet governor Alex Tolgos and his Uasin Gishu counterpart Jackson Mandago bore no fruits. Six students from Santa Maria Cheptulon Secondary School were among those who were stranded as they were returning back to school after being sent home. “I have travelled all the way from Lokichogio heading to Kapsowar. I hope I will find a matatu,” said Petero Ohoe. Helen Busienei, a hawker along Kapsowar shuttle stage said that the strike had badly affected her business. “Many of our customers are passengers travelling from and to Kapsowar. Today they are nowhere to be seen,” noted Busienei. The Eldoret Kapsowar route is served by about 80 shuttles owned by Kapsowar Sacco. Kerio prestige and Trans-west matatu Saccos withdrew from the busy route due to the poor road network.