University of Nairobi students are risking their lives going to and from class and library, as a result of neglect of a crucial tunnel connecting the main campus and Chiromo.
The tunnel that runs under the busy Uhuru Highway was damaged during the construction of the Expressway, resulting in perennial flooding that makes it impassable.
A site visit by Citizen Digital showed the tunnel is flooded, littered and in a very bad state, such that the students are forced to dodge vehicles on the highway as they cross from one end of the university to the other.
A spot-check by Citizen Digital saw many students rushing to class wait for minutes as cars speed by, making immense timing to cross the ever-busy highway.
Some of those who spoke to Citizen Digital narrated their ordeal crossing the highway.
Ali Kefa, a student leader at the university, said their efforts to engage the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) to clean the tunnel have fallen on deaf ears.
“Since last year they have been promising to build a footbridge for us but we went for the December holidays and came back, and nothing is going on. This tunnel was destroyed when they were constructing the Expressway, so they are liable for this mess,” Kefa said.
Another student, Marrion Atieno, said she normally has to wait for a group of other students to cross the road, even when she is rushing to class or for exams.
Atieno urged relevant stakeholders to come to their rescue and clean the tunnel, or build a footbridge for them.
“I cannot cross the road alone. Sometimes I am forced to wait for minutes before we gather into a group so that we can cross. This is putting our lives at risk,” she said.
Kefa said two weeks ago a student was knocked down by a speeding car and was rushed to the Kenyatta National Hospital.
He threatened to mobilise students to peacefully demonstrate if KeNHA doesn’t act in a month.
The drainage around the area was badly damaged, resulting in the tunnel flooding every time it rains.
Edward Chweya, “UoN Students Risk Lives on Uhuru Highway as Crossing Tunnel Is Impassable,” Citizen Digital (Citizen Digital, January 24, 2024), https://www.citizen.digital/exclusive-videos/uon-students-risk-lives-on-uhuru-highway-as-crossing-tunnel-is-impassable-n335409.
