By Joel Clinton
Nkuruma Road No. K36 in Kisumu is more than just a stretch of tarmac; it is a lifeline connecting Usoma village to the Kisumu–Busia highway, serving industries that power not only the county but the nation. From the Kenya Pipeline Kisumu Depot, Coca-Cola East Africa Plant, Kenya Cereal Board Depot, and United Bakery, to the Kenya Air Force Base and the newly built East Africa Community Headquarters. This road shoulders the weight of Kenya’s economic engines. Yet, its current state tells a different story one of neglect, frustration, and misplaced priorities.
Over the years, Nkuruma Road has deteriorated beyond recognition. Once smooth and busy with company trucks and community traffic, it has become riddled with potholes, loose gravel, and stagnant pools of water. Motorists and pedestrians alike navigate it with frustration and fear. For the residents of Usoma village and the countless workers commuting daily to the industries along the stretch, the road has become a symbol of betrayal. Despite countless appeals, petitions, and even demonstrations, no meaningful action has been taken.
What shocks many is not just the county’s silence but the hostility toward those trying to help repair the road. Companies that attempt to temporarily patch the road using their own resources have found themselves harassed or arrested by Kisumu County enforcement officers and the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA). “Imagine being punished for trying to fix what the government won’t,” lamented a resident during one of the protests earlier this year.
Ironically, this same road generates billions of shillings in revenue through the goods and fuel transported along it daily. Its strategic importance is undeniable yet, it remains one of the most neglected infrastructure links in Kisumu West.
After years of public outcry, a glimmer of hope appeared on September 16, 2025, when the Kisumu County Assembly convened a special sitting to deliberate over the ownership and responsibility of Nkuruma Road. The assembly concluded that the road falls under the jurisdiction of KURA and issued a recommendation for immediate action including full tarmacking to accommodate the heavy trucks ferrying oil and gas.
Still, the people wait. For now, Nkuruma Road stands as a reminder that while Kisumu continues to grow, development without accountability remains an empty promise and the road that fuels the nation continues to crumble beneath its own importance.
