Rehabilitation of Eastleigh’s Athumani Kipanga Street begins amid mixed reactions from traders and residents

Construction work has officially begun on Athumani Kipanga Street in Eastleigh, bringing long-awaited relief to traders and shoppers.

The road, which has remained in poor condition for several years, is home to over 20 shopping malls, including the well-known gold market, and serves as a vital commercial hub in Kamukunji Sub-County.

Local leaders say the project marks a major turning point for one of the busiest streets in the area.

Eastleigh North Ward MCA Ahmedkadar Dabar confirmed that the road works are expected to be completed by Tuesday morning.

“The road has been a concern for me for a long time,” he said, adding that the goal is to prevent it from falling back into disrepair.

“By tomorrow it will be completed,” said Ahmedkadar. “I want to see all roads in Eastleigh in good shape and well tarmacked.”

Project welcomed

Hawkers, many of them women, have welcomed the project, saying stagnant, dirty water had made the street nearly unusable for business.

With drainage now cleared and construction underway, they’re hopeful for better working conditions.

Kaahia Abdullahi, a mother of two who sells abayas on the street, said the water that had flooded her selling spot is finally gone.

“Once it is launched, I will get back my place. The standing water that took over my place is no longer there,” she said.

Business owners in the nearby malls have also welcomed the works. Many customers—especially women—said they often struggled to access their shops due to the poor condition of the road.

Temporary wooden planks had been used to cross over the flooded sections, but these makeshift solutions were neither safe nor reliable.

Other Topics To Read

• Eastleigh
• Eastleigh residents
• Ahmedkadar Dabar
• Athumani Kipanga Street
• Eastleigh Residents Association
• Eastleigh Bangkok Mall
• Eastleigh North Ward MCA
• Rehabilitation of Eastleigh’s Athumani Kipanga Street begins amid mixed reactions from traders and residents
• Headlines

Filth

“Crossing that road was hard due to the filth. Temporary wooden bridges were placed to allow people to cross from one side to another, but women found it difficult. That will be gone now,” said Ahmed Hassan, who sells watches at Bangkok Mall.

However, not everyone is satisfied. Some residents have voiced concerns about the quality of the ongoing work. Last week, the Eastleigh Residents Association raised concerns over what they called substandard rehabilitation efforts.

Residents pointed out that the contractor poured murram directly over mud and stagnant water, without clearing or draining the road first. They worry this will weaken the road and lead to rapid deterioration.

A spot check by The Eastleigh Voice confirmed that murram was applied over uncleared mud, and that parts of the drainage had been blocked during the process.

Athumani Kipanga Street now joins a list of recently rehabilitated roads in Kamukunji, including Keroe Street, Ahero Road, and sections of 18th Street.