Locals of Busia town are challenged to be vigilant and check on those vandalizing rails for purposes of reselling as scrap metals.
In an interview with Kondele News, Peter Odima, the County Executive Committee (CEC) Member for Lands and Urban Planning in Busia County, highlighted the dangers posed by the theft of these guard rails.
“There have been complaints from residents about the manholes along the busy Busia-Kisumu Highway. We erect guard rails, but unfortunately, unknown youths vandalize and sell them to scrap dealers in Uganda,” Odima lamented.
Odima also expressed concern over assaults by a group of notorious young men from the Marachi slum area, known as “Jobless,” who have been reported to attack officials who refuse to give them handouts.
“Youths ambushed the foreman in charge of the guardrail contract, and when he declined their demands, they attacked him. This shows how bad our society is, and we call upon the police to arrest them and bring them to book,” Odima warned.
These incidents come barely a month after the county, together with the national government, erected guardrails to reduce accidents and constructed flood trenches to mitigate flooding during the rainy season.
Odima urged relevant authorities to regulate the scrap business, which is on the rise in Uganda. He also called on Busia residents to work closely with the authorities to ensure that development projects in the town are well-maintained. “I call upon Busia residents to be vigilant and report vandalism cases to law enforcers so that perpetrators are arrested and charged,” he concluded.
Ironically, some residents told Kondele News that the recent vandalism is due to the darkness in the town. They called on Governor Paul Nyongesa Otuoma’s government and the Kenya Power and Lighting Company to erect floodlights along the road.
