
SECTION OF THIKA ROAD AT JUJA TO BE CLOSED FROM TONIGHT
The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) has announced the closure of Thika Superhighway at Juja Highpoint (Centurion) from Dec. 12 to Dec. 17, between 11 pm and 6 am, to facilitate the construction of a new footbridge.
Motorists travelling to Nairobi have been urged to use a diversion behind the Lexo petrol station before rejoining back to the superhighway while those heading to Thika to use the diversion behind Centurion Hotel before rejoining the superhighway.
On May 2022 Chaos erupted when angry residents of Juja barricaded Thika superhighway demanding construction of a footbridge.
Armed police had to lob teargas to disperse a large mob that had gathered at Highpoint area which locals say has become an accident black spot following the recent removal of speed bumps on the busy superhighway.
The protesters led by Juja Jubilee parliamentary candidate Aloise Kinyanjui had blocked the road with burning tyres and stones before police swung to action and dispersed them.
In the ensuing melee, Mr Kinyanjui’s high profile vehicle was damaged when a teargas canister shattered the windscreen and missed the driver by a whisker.
Motorists were forced to drive on the wrong side of the road to avoid the clash between police and the protesters which caused a huge traffic snarl up and closure of businesses operating in the area.
The residents mainly from Gachororo and Highpoint areas decried the frequency of accidents in the area in which a number of pedestrians have lost their lives after being hit by vehicles while crossing the highway.
Kenya Highways Authority (KenHA) removed bumps at the Highpoint crossing and sealed off the area with grills and barbed wire but some of the residents have been jumping over the barriers to cross the road.
The furious protesters who removed some of the grills and barbed wires said the move has led to the closure of small businesses in the area as many customers no longer pass there while young children are forced to walk far to reach school.
Commuters lamented that they were badly inconvenienced as the nearest footbridge is more than two kilometers away and people had to meet an extra cost by paying boda bodas to get to their destinations.
The area has a large population of students from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology who have to cross the highway to access their hostels.