Roads in ruins: Masaba South in fury over shoddy county works

Poor workmanship on roads undertaken by the Kisii County Government in Masaba South Sub-County has sparked anger among residents, with a local MCA questioning the quality of projects being implemented using public funds.

Residents have raised concerns that some roads deteriorate shortly after rehabilitation, putting the spotlight on the supervision of contractors and the county’s mechanisms for inspecting and approving completed works.

Masimba MCA Bouse Mairura said residents deserved better from the administration of Governor Simba Arati, arguing that public funds should result in durable infrastructure.

“What we are asking for is not luxury. We need roads that can withstand rain. The county government must stop accepting substandard work,” he said.

Mairura said roads should remain usable for a reasonable period after rehabilitation instead of becoming impassable soon after completion.

“Our people are voters. They deserve roads that are properly done, properly supervised and capable of serving them before maintenance is required,” he said.

The MCA questioned whether county officials were adequately monitoring contractors working on roads in the area, calling for greater accountability in the implementation and supervision of county projects.

He said poor road infrastructure had far-reaching consequences, particularly for farmers who depend on roads to transport their produce to markets.

Residents also complained about sections of roads that become difficult to use during rainy weather, citing poor drainage and what they described as inadequate rehabilitation works.

John Ogwoka said residents were tired of seeing roads repaired only for potholes and other defects to emerge within weeks.

“We are tired of seeing roads repaired today only to develop potholes a few weeks later. This is a waste of public money and as residents we deserve value for every shilling spent,” he said.

George Ratemo, a resident of Sunguta, challenged Governor Arati’s administration to take responsibility for ensuring county-funded roads meet acceptable standards.

“If a road collapses shortly after construction, then somebody has failed. Either the contractor did poor work or the people supervising the project failed in their duty,” he said.

Mairura urged the county administration to inspect roads while construction is ongoing and ensure contractors rectify defective work before projects are approved and payments made.

He also called for greater involvement of ward representatives and residents in monitoring development projects, saying public participation could help ensure that county funds translate into tangible benefits.

“You cannot put a thin layer of murram on a road, declare the work complete and expect residents to remain silent. Somebody must explain who inspected and approved these works,” Mairura said.

The concerns come amid increased public scrutiny of county governments over the quality and sustainability of development projects.

Road infrastructure remains a major economic and political issue in Kisii County, where residents rely heavily on local roads to access markets, schools, health facilities and other essential services.

For residents of Masaba South, the dispute goes beyond the condition of individual roads. They want infrastructure capable of withstanding harsh weather, supporting local economic activity and demonstrating that devolution is delivering value at the grassroots.