Lack of streetlights on Eastleigh's Keroe Street raises security concerns
The absence of lighting has created insecurity, with many people avoiding the road at night and calling for urgent action from Nairobi City County to install street lights.
Residents and road users in California estate, Eastleigh, have expressed growing concern over the lack of street lighting along Keroe Street, a newly tarmacked road that connects Marimbi Street to General Wariungi Street near Nomad Palace Hotel.
The absence of lighting has created insecurity, with many people avoiding the road at night and calling for urgent action from Nairobi City County to install street lights.
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The road was recently upgraded and tarmacked by the Nairobi City County after years of being in poor condition. While residents have welcomed the improvement in road infrastructure, they now say the lack of lighting has created new challenges.
According to those who live and work in the area, the darkness has made the road a hotspot for crime, echoing recent incidents that have left the community unsettled.
In May this year, thugs stormed a food wholesale store along the road and made away with hundreds of thousands of shillings. Witnesses say the criminals used the darkness to their advantage.
Residents fear that without proper lighting, such incidents could recur.
“The darkness is not good because it attracts crime. People have been mugged here several times, and also three months ago, a shopkeeper was robbed by gunmen who stole a large amount of money,” said Musa Adan, a 24-year-old resident of California estate.
Insecurity is not the only issue linked to the unlit street. Residents say the darkness has become a meeting point for groups of young women believed to have been trafficked from northern Uganda. They gather in the evenings and remain late into the night, a situation that has reportedly attracted street families and other groups who sometimes clash near the road.
“They fight sometimes and make a lot of noise, disturbing our sleep. What attracts them here is the darkness,” said Shaiya Hassan, a mother of three who has lived in the area for years.
Pedestrians have also raised concerns, saying they feel unsafe using the road after dark. Some now prefer to use alternative routes where there is more lighting and heavier pedestrian traffic.
“From 10:00 pm, I use Timboroa street because it is more lit and has more people. Using this road at night is a bit scary,” said Mohamed Noor, a frequent user of the road.
Community members say that despite the county’s investment in road upgrades, the failure to provide lighting undermines the benefits of the project. They are particularly concerned about the stretch between Waudo Street and Nomad Palace Hotel, which becomes very dark after nightfall.
Residents have urged Nairobi City County to prioritise the installation of street lights on Keroe Street to improve safety and restore confidence among pedestrians and businesses. They argue that good lighting would discourage crime, reduce noise disturbances, and ensure safer movement at night.
A source within the county government told The Eastleigh Voice that plans are underway to install street lights on several roads across California estate. The source confirmed that Keroe Street has been identified as one of the roads earmarked for lighting, although no clear timeline was given.
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