A task force constituted to establish the causes of accidents in black spots on various roads in the county government has found out that the lack of signs and encroachment by traders on road reserves to be the main cause of the accidents including the fatal accident that claimed a number of lives at Mukhonje along the Webuye-Eldoret highway.
Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya formed the taskforce after the August 26 where six people died, and seven others injured during the accident. Property belonging to 31 people was destroyed after a fuel tanker burst into flames. According to the report traders have put up structures on road reserves, while matatus have set up an illegal stage away from the official bus stop, hence causing more confusion at the centre.
For instance, at Mukhonje shopping centre which is located in a valley, some of the buildings and other structures at the centre are on the road reserve and others in plots within private and personal land.
Among the recommendations that the task force recommends is the use of speed cameras at the various strategic points of the road, installation of growl strips and restoration of warning signs using plastic material to make it less attractive to vandals. Also, the trade department should remove hawkers operating on road reserves and charge them. Finally, bordering county’s have been advised to collaborate and aid each other during emergencies as sum of the services have not been fully decentralized thus the need for complementary support.
By Wycliffe Andabwa