Kenya's infrastructural planning leaves a lot to be desired. Most of our towns are disorganised, with vibandas and other mabati structures scattered almost everywhere. There is nothing inherently wrong with iron sheets being the preferred material for temporary structures. The problem is how they are used. If these structures must exist, the least we can do is ensure they are orderly, well maintained and properly planned.
No town in Kenya has been spared. Across the country, hundreds of stalls and makeshift structures are squeezed along roadsides, sometimes only a metre or two from moving traffic. These vibandas provide livelihoods for mama mboga, fundi wa viatu, mutura vendors and thousands of other small traders. That is not in question. The real issue is whether there is no better way for people to earn a living without obstructing walkways, disrupting traffic and making our towns appear apocalyptic.
The situation deteriorates during peak hours. Every trader wants to be closer to the road than the next, hoping to catch the attention of passing customers. At the same time, thousands of people are trying to get home while touts compete aggressively for passengers. The result is overcrowding, confusion and a perfect environment for pickpocketers and petty criminals to showcase their craft.We then act surprised when crime becomes a persistent problem.
How can you complain about disorder when you watched Maina build his kibanda a few feet from the road without approval from the relevant authorities and said nothing? You probably even praised him for being hardworking. How can you criticise congestion when you were the first to place your welding machine on the footpath because it ushered in more customers? On that note, why are welding workshops so often located beside busy roads? They are noisy, hazardous and inconvenient for pedestrians yet they have become normal in almost every Kenyan town. We truly are an interesting people.
I will not even dwell on the matatu industry in this blog because any attempt to criticize it is often dismissed as an attack on the revered 'ng'anya' culture.Many of Kenya's problems stem from the same underlying issue: our unwillingness to follow even the most basic rules of civic order. Whether it is keeping our streets clean, obeying traffic laws or rejecting corruption, we are quick to point fingers while ignoring our own role in the problem.
Yes, Kenya has crooked leaders. But more often than not, they are a reflection of the society that elected them. If ordinary citizens disregard rules whenever they become inconvenient, why should we expect those in positions of power to behave differently?
Real change begins with citizens holding themselves to higher standards. It begins with respecting order, embracing proper planning and recognising that doing things the right way usually benefits everyone in the long run. Unfortunately, we have become so accustomed to mediocrity that dirt, disorder and poor planning no longer shock us. They have become part of everyday life.
A good place to start would be clearing illegal structures that have taken over our roads and public spaces. That includes vibandas, makeshift mutura shades and even the endless billboards. Take a drive through parts of Westlands and you'll see what I mean. At times, it feels as though there are more billboards than buildings. What is it with our obsession with visual clutter?
Someone on X (formerly Twitter) recently remarked that Rongai is such an eyesore that it should be flattened and rebuilt and I couldn't agree more. Rongai symbolises many of the planning failures that have become common all across Kenya: chaotic growth, poor infrastructure and disregard for long-term urban planning.
When I want to calm or just to exhale,I drive from Karen,via Ongata Rongai...The drive let me see Rongai, the worst town in Africa that really stresses me for being a poster child of collapse in Africa...Rongai should be burnt down.-Donald B Kipkorir on X.
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| Ongata Rongai Town by Safaritravelplus |
Many Kenyans dream of making Kenya to be like Singapore or even Dubai in the coming decades yet we continue to tolerate disorder in our own neighbourhoods. Better towns will not emerge miraculously through wishful thinking alone.We need to stop normalising chaos and start demanding order, not only from our leaders, but also from ourselves.That is unfortunately, the only way.