Waudo Street residents, businesses affected by lack of street lights

Businesspeople and residents of Waudo Street in Eastleigh within the Kamukunji constituency have raised concerns about the lack of street lights, which puts them at risk of robbery and income losses. 

Waudo Street, one of the busiest roads in the area, has had no functional street lights since it was paved and launched by Nairobi County Governor Johnson Sakaja in March this year. 

The few floodlights along this road have also stopped working, causing inconvenience for both users and businesses.

Waudo Street becomes lively in the evening, especially after 7 p.m., when it attracts many young people who gather with plastic chairs along the road, enjoying affordable dinner meals from small restaurants and sipping camel milk tea.

Some visit to spend time and chat about their everyday experiences.

Hindia Hussein, who operates a small restaurant, said that the lack of lighting is causing problems for many of her customers, who worry about being mugged by criminals hiding in the dark.

"More people would come here, but the darkness keeps them away. Customers fear muggers," said Hindia.

Waudo Street in Eastleigh, Nairobi, becomes lively in the evening, especially after 7 p.m. attracting many young people for dinner. (Photo: Abdirahman Khalif)

According to Fartun Abdirahman, who also runs a small fast-food joint, thugs on motorcycles snatched telephones from unsuspecting pedestrians last week.

"A lady lost her phone after it was snatched by thugs on a boda boda. It was scary," said Fartun.

Incidents of boda bodas hitting pedestrians at night have also increased, with children often being the victims. Residents, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Eastleigh Voice that the darkness might be aiding drug peddlers who operate at night.

Hawkers who start their businesses in the evening also raised concerns that their products are not visible to potential customers when it gets dark. Mama Wambo, who sells fried potatoes commonly known as viazi karai, said the darkness has disadvantaged her, as people only see the fire and not what she is selling.

"At night, only the fire is seen, not what I am selling. I hope we get street lights like on other sides," she complained. 

Businesspeople and residents of Waudo Street in Eastleigh within the Kamukunji constituency, on Monday, July 2024 lamented the lack of street lights. (Photo: Abdirahman Khalif)