Motorists in Nakuru City are struggling to secure parking space within Nakuru’s Central Business District (CBD) months after the city management converted huge chunks of spaces into pedestrian walkways.

Although the streets of Nakuru have taken on a new shine, after the construction of the Non-Motorized Transport (NMT) works at Kenyatta Avenue and Moi road, most parking slots especially along Kenyatta Avenue have been replaced by the pedestrian walkways.

“The construction of pedestrian walkways has consumed portions of space and replaced several parking slots. The move has greatly affected the traffic flow in Nakuru City especially along Kenyatta Avenue,” a motorist Peter Maina told the Nation.

Another motorist Charles Angwenyi said already the struggle for parking lots has been felt, with the introduction of walkways.

“The most affected street so far is Kenyatta Avenue; we hope the Nakuru City management will provide us with alternative space for parking. The walkways and the flower pots have consumed huge spaces within the CBD,” said Angwenyi.

More space has also been taken by concrete flower pots established at various spots within the CBD.

According to the city manager Mr Gitau Thabanja, the developments are made to spruce up the face of Nakuru as well as make it a world class city.

"We embarked on construction works to improve the drainage, revamp the road infrastructure, introduce pedestrian walkways, streamline garbage disposal, address the housing challenge, street lighting, traffic jams, introduce eco-friendly amenities among other things key to city status,” stated Mr Thabanja.

The Nakuru City early this year allocated Sh80.7 million for building of the pedestrian walkways within the Nakuru's Central Business District (CBD) in its non-motorized transport programme.

The first phase of the 750-metre stretch, along Kenyatta Avenue running from Shik Park building to the Kenya Commercial Bank, on both sides, to Moi Road up to Oginga Odinga lane next to the county headquarters is almost complete.

Phase two will cover the section from KCB bank to the Westside mall and then link to the Oginga Odinga road.

Ematara@ke.nationmedia.com

Pedestrian Walkways Eat into CBDs Parking Space

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