Industrial area workers are crying foul over perennial flooding of roads which is slowing business activities and leading to job losses.
The problem has been blamed on blocked drainage system that may be caused by the dumping of solid waste.
When it rains in Road ‘A’, Ectoville estate, off Enterprise Road in Industrial area flash floods and stagnant water have been a constant fixture.
Speaking to the Star on phone, Raphael Muthama, an employee of Max-mile tyres, one of the companies in Road A says he has witnessed flooding for over 16 years.
“I started working for Max-mile in 2005 and I can attest that flooding of this road is an old problem,” he said.
“When severe rain hits, we brace for the return for what we call ‘Lake Road A’. This ‘Lake’ is stagnant water mixed with garbage and sewerage an eye soaring view.”
Muthama,69, revealed that he has to wade through that deep pool of dirty water to access his work premises.
“At my age, I have no option but to walk on that water ignoring the risks that come with it,” he said.
For some employees who cannot wade through the deep waters that extend to sidewalks, they wait for good samaritans to carry them through the waters sometimes at a fee.
“I have to wait for a good Samaritan to carry me through the water sometimes at a fee of 100 bob. I am plus size getting someone who can carry me comfortably is also a major challenge,” Jane Wanjiru revealed.
Road A is a hub for major Industries.
Some of the companies include Maxmile Tyres Kenya limited, Printwell Ltd, Odd Mac Engineering Ltd, African Bee Keepers Ltd, Alvi Auto Spares Ltd, Sai Uniforms Ltd, Maranatha Church among others.
Maxmile Tyres Kenya Limited managing director Harpreet Lotay says the flooding of the road has affected his business greatly.
It deals with tyre retread and selling of new tyres.
“When it floods, our small trucks cannot go out from the premise for collection of tyres for retreads or deliveries,” Lotay said
“Flooding of this road has affected my business sales by 50 per cent.”
Lotay said customers cannot access his premises for service and his staff find it hard to access their offices.
Maxmile has over 40 employees and for the past days, they have not been working as the floods have inconvenienced them.
“We face this problem every year and no one has responded to the situation despite regular complaints to improve the drainage system,” he said.
“The effects of rain have become even worse. We have not worked for days. I have employees that I need to take care of. It is a big challenge.”
Efforts to reach Nairobi Metropolitan Service for comment were futile after calls went unanswered.
On her part, Printwell Industries Ltd, managing director Shamila D’cunha called for quick action from NMS to come up with a permanent solution to the drainage problem.
“This flooding of the road is not just an inconvenience to business activities but also a health hazard to us,” she said.
Shamila said her company has failed to meet delivery targets causing major losses and losing credibility of her clients.
“We have been unable to deliver goods to our clients from Monday when the downpour started,” she said.
“Suppliers cannot access our premise hence we are out of supplies and our machines are shut.”
“We have over fifty staffs, how are we to take care of them?,” Shamila posed.
Edited by Kiilu Damaris