Bungoma Motorists Divided as County Installs Road Spikes to Curb Illegal U-Turns on Musikoma-Kanduyi Highway
The area has in recent months recorded several near-misses and collisions involving matatus, private cars and boda bodas attempting to cut across the dual road illegally.
Photo: Courtesy.
By Robert Mutasi
The installation of road spikes by the County Government of Bungoma to curb illegal U-turns along the busy Mayoni-Bungoma (B139) highway has elicited mixed reactions from motorists, boda boda riders and residents.
The spikes, which have been mounted on the dual carriageway section between Musikoma Roundabout and Kanduyi Junction where the B139 connects with the A8 highway, are aimed at stopping drivers from making dangerous and unauthorized U-turns that have been blamed for a rise in accidents.
According to the county’s Department of Roads and Public Works, the decision was reached after numerous complaints from the public and after the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) raised concern over rampant traffic violations on the newly upgraded stretch. The area has in recent months recorded several near-misses and collisions involving matatus, private cars and boda bodas attempting to cut across the dual road illegally.
A section of residents and motorists has welcomed the move, saying it will restore sanity and improve safety on the highway.
“This is a good move. Drivers have been making U-turns anywhere they want, especially near Kanduyi. It was just a matter of time before someone lost their life. These spikes will force discipline,” said Peter Wafula, a matatu driver operating on the Bungoma-Webuye route.
Another resident, Grace Naliaka, a trader at Kanduyi market, said the illegal U-turns had made crossing the road dangerous for pedestrians.
“Before, you could never know where a car would come from. A driver would just turn in the middle of the road. Now at least we feel safer crossing,” she said.
However, a section of drivers and boda boda operators have criticized the installation, arguing that the spikes were erected without adequate public sensitization and clear signage.
Some motorists claim the spikes are too sharp and risk damaging tyres even when approached at low speed, while others say they have not been painted with reflective material, making them hard to spot at night.
“We were not warned. I was driving at night and I almost hit the spikes because there was no sign showing they were there. If the aim is safety, then they should also ensure visibility and proper markings,” complained James Simiyu, a boda boda rider in Bungoma town.
Others have also questioned whether the county government has the mandate to install such infrastructure on a national trunk road, saying KeNHA should be the one to authorize and supervise such interventions.
KeNHA had recently issued a notice on phased lane closures along the Musikoma-Kanduyi section to allow for surface dressing works, and the county says the spikes are part of complementary measures to manage traffic during and after the upgrade.
Transport officials in Bungoma have defended the project, saying the spikes are made of heavy-duty rubber with one-way metal studs that only puncture tyres of vehicles moving in the wrong direction. They have assured motorists that vehicles observing traffic rules have nothing to worry about.
The county government says it will monitor the impact of the spikes in the next few weeks and will add more signage, speed bumps and road markings where necessary.
Meanwhile, police in Bungoma have urged motorists to observe traffic rules and use designated U-turn points and roundabouts to avoid accidents and damage to their vehicles.
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