Relief for Eastleigh residents as construction begins on Seventh Street after years of neglect

Construction has officially begun on Seventh Street in Eastleigh’s Airbase Ward, bringing relief to residents and traders who have for years struggled with the poor state of the road.

The project is expected to transform the area by improving mobility, easing congestion on nearby routes, and boosting economic activity along this stretch.

Seventh Street connects Second Avenue to Third Avenue and has, for years, remained among the untarmacked roads in the area. Its condition has been a constant challenge for thousands of residents, business operators, and commuters who use it daily, particularly those seeking to avoid traffic jams along Second Avenue.

The road is home to several businesses, including shops, hospitals, and schools, and it also serves as a residential zone with many tall apartment buildings.

For years, residents have endured flooding and mud whenever it rained, making the road nearly impassable. Stagnant water along the stretch posed health challenges and the foul smells made life difficult for people living nearby.

The construction follows months of public concern and media coverage highlighting the challenges faced by the community.

The Eastleigh Voice, which has repeatedly reported on the state of the road and the suffering of residents, had last month drawn attention to the need for urgent action.

For many residents, the start of construction has brought a sense of relief.

Farhia Abukar, who lives in one of the residential buildings along Seventh Street, said the long wait for the tarmacking of the road is finally over. She recalled the many years of neglect, which left the road muddy when it rained.

“Whenever it rained, the road became impassable. The worst problem we faced was the foul smell from the stagnant water on the road. Sometimes we could not even open our windows because of the foul smell. Now we are happy that this is finally being addressed,” Farhia said.

Transport operators have also welcomed the construction. Boda boda rider Peter Matara, who operates in the area, explained that the poor state of the road had long affected their work.

“Even taxis could not access this road because of the mud,” Matara said. “It was especially bad when it rained, but that will soon be a thing of the past.”

Street traders, who depend on easy access to buildings and homes along Seventh Street, are equally optimistic.

Ceaser Ngigi, who sells home appliances from a pushcart, said the poor state of the road limited his ability to reach customers.

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“I could not access many of the buildings here because of the mud, and that meant I was missing out on business,” Ngigi said.

“Now that the road is being constructed, I will be able to reach more homes. It is good to see the government taking action on a road that has been in this bad condition for so long.”

Taxi and matatu drivers have also praised the project, pointing out that the new road will provide an additional route to ease pressure on Second Avenue, which sometimes experiences traffic congestion.

The Seventh Street project is part of a wider effort to improve road infrastructure within Kamukunji constituency. In recent months, several other roads have been tarmacked, including Ahero Road in Pumwani Ward, the extension of Eighteenth Street in Eastleigh South Ward, and Keroe Street in California Ward.

With construction now underway, residents and business operators along Seventh Street are hopeful that the long years of struggle are coming to an end.