KURA Sets Record Straight on Construction of 'House' on Kenyatta Avenue: "Aje Sasa Watu Wangu?"
- Kenyans took to social media to look for answers on the type of structure that is being constructed along the Kenyatta Avenue
- Some speculated that a house under President William Ruto's Affordable Housing Programme was being constructed in the CBD
- This attracted the attention of the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA), which addressed the matter, explaining what was being built
Education is Your Right! Don’t Let Social Norms Hold You Back. Learn Online with TUKO. Enroll Now!
Faith Chandianya, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and Current Affairs in Kenya
Nairobi: A section of Kenyans took to their social media platforms to humourously claim that the Kenya Kwanza government is now building houses on the road.
Source: Facebook
These came as photos of mounting of large pillars in the middle of Kenyatta Avenue in Nairobi went viral, with a section of Kenyans creating memes.
Is house being built along Kenyatta Avenue?
The hilarious videos and photos with the caption "nani amejenga nyumba Kenyatta Avenue" spread widely across social media platforms like Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and TikTok.
Search option is now available at TUKO! Feel free to search the content on topics/people you enjoy reading about in the top right corner ;)
Others humourously responded by stating that it was about time people started applying to occupy the houses under the Affordable Programme in Nairobi Central Business District.
This garnered the attention of the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA), which used a creative way to respond to the ongoing concern by some Kenyans.
What is KURA constructing on Kenyatta Avenue?
The authority took to their X platform to address the issue, stating that what was under construction was a viaduct and not a house like people were claiming.
"Mnauliza nani anajenga nyumba Kenyatta Avenue? Aje sasa watu wangu? Tunajenga viaduct," the statement read in part.
A viaduct is a long bridge-like structure consisting of arches, designed to carry a road or a railway to elevate transportation lines above the ground level.
The agency's engineer, Benjamin Asin, further clarified that the viaduct (an elevated road) was designed to link Valley Road, Ngong' Road and Haile Selassie Avenue.
Built with the intention of easing traffic congestion, the viaduct will enable motorists from the CBD to directly connect to Ngong Road near the Kenya National Library Service
Asin clarified that the temporary boarding structures constructed along the Kenyatta Avenue are meant to protect the working environment and the motorists.
"I have seen many questions, watu wanauliza sasa nani anajenga nyumba kwa barabara.I want to clarify these are not houses, We want to build a viaduct which requires heavy machinery. You notice that this is a very busy area, and we need to have very reliable protection," Asin said.
Govt resumes road construction
This comes at a time when the government, through the Ministry of Roads and Transport, announced the unveiling of an innovative financial solution designed to change infrastructure financing.
Through the Fuel Levy, contractors began returning to work on the estate roads and major highways.
Source: Facebook
The Kenya Kwanza administration revealed that they were able to invest over KSh 175 billion in the road infrastructure industry through the fuel levy securitisation.
Kenyans contribute towards the fuel levy by paying KSh 25 tax on each litre of fuel they purchase for road maintenance purposes.
Proofreading by Asher Omondi, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
