South C Business Community Protests Over Poor Roads in South C
South Sea residents and members of the business community during a peaceful protest demanding urgent repair of roads in the area, citing poor infrastructure and flooding challenges.
Business owners and residents of South C in Lang’ata Constituency on Tuesday staged a peaceful protest demanding urgent repair of roads in the area, accusing relevant authorities of neglect despite repeated appeals.
Led by community leaders and members of the South Sea business community, the residents said the poor state of roads has continued to affect businesses, transport and the safety of residents, especially during rainy seasons when flooding worsens the situation.
Speaking during the demonstration, community leader Abdurashid Biliki Hassan said residents had made several attempts to seek intervention from relevant agencies including the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) and Nairobi City County, but no meaningful action had been taken.
“We are gathered here as the business community to conduct a peaceful petition over the poor state of roads in South Sea. Residents feel forgotten despite paying taxes and contributing to the economy,” said Biliki.
According to the residents, many roads in the area have become impassable, causing difficulties for motorists, traders and pedestrians. They noted that flooding during rainy periods has further damaged the roads, increasing the risk of accidents and affecting movement within the estate.
One resident said the initiative was not politically motivated but rather aimed at pushing leaders and government agencies to act on the deteriorating infrastructure.
“This is not about any politician. This is about the people of South Sea and the suffering they are going through because of poor roads,” the resident said.
The residents also claimed that their planned peaceful march was disrupted after Lang’ata Member of Parliament Phelix Odiwuor, popularly known as Jalang’o, allegedly arrived at the scene accompanied by a group of youths.
Biliki accused the MP of interfering with what they described as a lawful and peaceful petition process.
“It is unfortunate that as we started our peaceful march, the Member of Parliament came with people who caused chaos among residents and traders who had gathered,” he claimed.
He further alleged that the MP did not address the concerns raised by residents regarding infrastructure challenges in the area.
“We only want our roads fixed. We are not asking for anything else. The roads are in a pathetic condition and residents are suffering every day,” Biliki added.
Residents maintained that the petition had not yet been formally presented and insisted they would continue with the process despite the alleged disruption.
“The petition is still with us. There is no petition that has been officially received. We are still proceeding with our march and we shall continue until our voices are heard,” Biliki stated.
The protesters further warned that if their grievances are not addressed, they would escalate the matter to the National Assembly.
“If our local leaders fail to listen to us, we will directly petition the National Assembly because that will show we are not being represented properly,” he said.
Some traders who participated in the protest expressed frustration over losses they continue to incur due to the poor road network.
They said customers often avoid certain parts of South Sea because of inaccessible roads and flooding, affecting businesses and slowing economic activities in the area.
Residents also called on government agencies responsible for road maintenance to prioritize rehabilitation works in South Sea, arguing that the estate hosts significant investments and businesses that contribute to Nairobi’s economy.
“We pay taxes like every other Kenyan. We deserve proper infrastructure and services from the government,” another resident said.
The demonstrators urged leaders to engage the community through dialogue instead of confrontation whenever residents raise concerns affecting their daily lives.
Biliki called on all leaders in the area to convene a meeting with residents and business owners to discuss solutions to the infrastructure challenges facing South Sea.
“We urge leaders to sit down with the community and listen to what residents are saying because they are the same people who elected them,” he said.
The protest remained largely peaceful as residents reiterated their commitment to pursuing lawful means in demanding better services and improved infrastructure in the area.
Efforts to improve roads in several parts of Nairobi have faced delays in recent years due to ongoing infrastructure projects, budget constraints and drainage challenges, especially in areas prone to flooding.
However, residents of South Sea insist that immediate intervention is necessary to prevent further damage and ease the burden on businesses and motorists using the roads daily.
