The Consumers Federation of Kenya (COFEK) has filed an official complaint with the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA), protesting the alleged illegal closure and attempted privatization of Palm Valley Road in Runda Estate.
In a letter sent on Monday, March 2, COFEK accused the local residents’ association of setting up physical barriers and restricting entry to a route that the federation insists is public property.
COFEK further alleges that the association demanded annual fees of up to Ksh 30,000 per vehicle for access. They argue this move unfairly blocks the public from using a road they have depended on for years.
“We write on our own behalf and on behalf of concerned residents of Runda Estate to formally lodge a complaint regarding unlawful obstruction and purported conversion of Palm Valley Road, a public road, into a restricted private access road,” the letter read.
COFEK maintains that the route is a designated public urban road. They argue it falls directly under KURA’s statutory mandate as outlined in the Kenya Roads Act, 2007.
The federation is urging KURA to investigate the situation and confirm the road’s legal status. They want the authority to take immediate enforcement action, which includes issuing formal notices to remove the barriers or stop the restrictions if they find the blockage is illegal.
This legal move follows a wave of public outcry. Motorists and commuters who regularly use the road claim that guards blocked their passage and demanded payment before allowing them through.
However, the estate management has dismissed these allegations entirely. They state that they do not require any access charges and have never authorized anyone to collect fees for using any public road within their boundaries.
The estate also clarified that the specific road in question does not actually sit within their jurisdiction. They claim it belongs to a neighboring estate and urged the public to verify the correct location and legal boundaries before sharing information online.
COFEK counters that any group obstructing or restricting access without written permission from the road authority is interfering with the law. They argue that because these roads belong to the citizens, no private entity has the right to gate them off.
“The erection of barriers and restriction of access without lawful authority constitutes interference and encroachment,” COFEK stated, adding that public roads are held in trust for the benefit and use of the public at large.
The federation is now pressing the authority to restore the road to its rightful public use immediately. They point to the significant public interest at stake and the ongoing frustration of motorists who find themselves locked out of a vital route.
As of this publication, KURA has not yet issued a formal statement regarding the dispute or its plans for an investigation.
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