A viral TikTok live video has sparked outrage after showing the horrible condition of roads in Pipeline estate, Nairobi. The clip captured sewage flooding the roads, forcing motorists to abandon their cars and residents to walk on the filthy sides of the road.
The footage showed people hopping over pools of dirty water and tiptoeing through narrow dry patches just to move around. The scene raised serious questions about public safety and emergency response.
A tweet screenshot from Francis Gaitho on X lamenting about the real state of pipeline. Courtesy/X
If an ambulance or fire truck needed to pass through, there would be no way for them to access homes or businesses quickly.
This video has exposed the real struggles faced by Nairobi residents, especially in areas that have long been neglected by the county government.
An X User by the Name Yvonne sharing her sentiments on the current state in Pipeline. Photo courtesy/X
What makes it worse is that such a situation exists under the leadership of Governor Johnson Sakaja, who had promised to clean up the city and improve basic infrastructure.
But what residents are witnessing is the opposite. Sewage in the middle of the road is not just an inconvenience, it’s a health hazard. People are being exposed daily to diseases like typhoid and bilharzia due to stagnated water and poor drainage. This kind of neglect should not be normalised.
Netizens on X, formerly known as Twitter, expressed their frustration. Some wondered how long Nairobians will remain silent as their lives are endangered. Others questioned what the county government is doing with the money it collects if not to fix basic things like roads and drainage.
Another sentiment from X user.
One post shared a video of children walking through the flooded paths, asking how such an environment is acceptable in the capital city. The issue has clearly hit a nerve with many people online who feel that Pipeline and similar estates have been abandoned.
This public anger comes shortly after another scandal surrounding the county’s finances. A few weeks ago, Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja was under fire over an unaccounted KSh 2.2 billion from the 2023/2024 financial year.
According to a report from the Office of the Auditor General, there were inconsistencies in the KSh 12 billion revenue that was allegedly collected. The report stated that the figures could not be confirmed and raised red flags during a County Assembly Public Accounts Committee hearing.
To make it worse, the auditors said that three Mpesa payments totaling KSh 32 million could not be traced to any official bank accounts. This points to either serious mismanagement or outright theft of public funds.
Francis Gaitho even used poetry to express his disappointment, writing a piece describing the horrible condition of Nairobi’s roads while mocking the silence and calmness of the people affected. His words reflected how many residents have gotten used to this poor state of affairs, as if it’s normal to live in filth while paying taxes.
The truth is, Nairobi deserves better. Johnson Sakaja and his administration must be held accountable not just for the lost funds, but for the suffering of ordinary citizens who now have to jump over sewage to get to work or school. It’s a disgrace for a city that calls itself the economic hub of East Africa to be in such a mess.
