Mosop MP Abraham Kirwa was forced to fly from Nairobi to his constituency in Nandi where irate residents had blocked a major road for days protesting over its poor state
The residents had erected a fence in the middle of the road at Sang’alo-Kebulonik market where they camped for two days waiting for answers from the MP.
The residents also demanded a meeting with managers of the nearby Sang’alo Tea factory whose operations were paralysed following the closure of the road.
A contractor who was working on grading the 20-kilometre Baraton-Kaiboi road was forced to stop work.
The residents led by Eliud Bassy telephoned the MP who was in parliament insisting that they would not reopen the road unless he goes to explain to them why the road had not been tarmacked since independence.
When Kirwa arrived at Kebulonik he found an irate crowd which confronted him with questions concerning the road.
It took more than two hours for the residents to vent their anger before the MP addressed them to cool down the situation.
“We have been given fake promises about this road being tarmacked since independence. Even President Ruto came here and promised the same but nothing is happening and that is why we decided to act,” said Bassy.
At one point area MCA Silas Kogo joined the MP at the market but the irate residents turned him away.
He later told journalists that he was not to blame in any way.
MP Kirwa explained that he was in parliament attending a committee meeting when he learned of the tension in the area because of the closure of the road.
“So many activities in the constituency were completely paralyzed and I had to fly home to talk to you my people and explain the true situation as concerns the road,” said Kirwa.
He explained to the residents that the road was a national government project under KERRA which had been allocated Sh15 million for gravelling and spot filling.
Kirwa said it was true there had been many promises about tarmacking the road and he had talked to all relevant authorities on the matter.
He said he had agreed with KERRA to provide additional money for the contractor to further upgrade the road but would push to have it tarmacked.
The MP said the road was heavily used by transporters for tea sugarcane and that beneficiary companies would be asked to contribute to its maintenance.
Bassy said they wanted the factory owners to involve locals in the supply of firewood and job opportunities.
The manager of the tea factory Caleb Matutu who was present said already the company had provided jobs for 50 locals and they would work with the community for mutual benefit.
After three hours MP Kirwa was allowed to preside over the re-opening of the road to allow the resumption of normal operations.