I have downloaded it and have started reading it. However, I must reiterate that you need to tone down your emotions.

I simply wrote that this project was a mistake. I could have written that the people behind it are idiots; but that would be insulting.

Because they did their study and used their professional know-how to decide that expansion of the road is the best course of action. I do not dispute that point.

My view is that the professional decision was wrong. By that I do not imply that they are idiots; or that they are incompetent. NO!

All I mean is that they came to the wrong conclusion.

Remember what I said earlier: we must be careful not to lose sight of the objective. The problem is not the size of the road; it is the number of people that need to move from that area to the city every day.

In conclusion, therefore, we agree the the TRANSPORT system in the area needs improvement. What we disagree on are two points: [1]the method of improvement and [2] the language of making our points - I think you are being unnecessarily rude.

yekeyeke

Respect other peoples views. The road is a public good, for use by everone. Dont personalise it bwana.

@yekeyeke:

from the link you provided:http://www.afdb.org/fileadmin/uploads/afdb/Documents/Project-and-Operations/KE-2007-087-EN-ADF-BD-WP-REV.1-KENYA-AR-REV.1-NAIROBI-THIKA-HIGHWAY-PROJECT.PDF

3.7.4 More than 80% of public transport consists of small matatus, which is not an efficient
use of limited urban infrastructure and causes traffic congestion and traffic accidents. There is
an urgent need to improve the public transportation system in Nairobi by introducing other
modes of public transport with high carrying capacity such as LRT, and BRT. This action should
be complemented by strengthening mode interchange, and introducing shuttle buses in the
CBD. In addition strong consideration should be given for improving the institutional and
regulatory framework for management and operation of public transport system2

in 4.1.4;The
infrastructure development such as widening and additional lanes, construction of new roads or
bypasses will not provide enough capacity to cope with future demand. Therefore, there is an
urgent need to formulate and design a comprehensive public transportation system for the NMA
to develop an environment with increased capacity and modal choices including possibly light
rail transit, bus rapid transit, enhanced commuter rail and a restructured bus/matatu service.

So,understand what we are saying.Widening Thika road is okay,it should have been done 20 years ago.IT IS NOT THE ULTIMATE SOLUTION.In Kenya,we were so used to things being wrong,that when a good thing is done,we think its the BEST. No. We need the BEST solutions.

CORRECTION: I have NOT agreed that this expansion wasn't a mistake.

What I agree with you on is that the people of Thika road need an efficient mode of transport to get them into the city to do their business. I also agree that it is extremely unfair to have to wake up at 4am so as to get to work at 8am.

I don't think expanding the road is the right solution. Na sio matharau.

As I mentioned earlier: the aim is NOT to move cars and lorries efficiently; it is to move people and goods confortably

Ephy and Mukiha

When Mukiha started the post, he started this as a statement and not a question. This is what i am against.

Agreed that Roads will never be enough and so will trains. Roads and Trains have to complement one another. But we CANNOT build rails BEFORE we have build roads.

May be the headline of the post should have appropriately been:
-Was thika road expansion a mistake?
or - Should be build railline next?

but not to come to the conclusion that thika road expsnion was a mistake simply because you were coaught up in traffic when going shags uring xmas.

People of western kenya and rift vally also hd a hectic time with trafiic around that time and i do not see them calling for a ral line to western kenya like you guys are doing. Kweli dunia ina watu.