By Kimutai Kirui
In Uasin Gishu County, incompetence, wastage, and poor planning have become disturbingly synonymous with governance. Nothing seems to function seamlessly — not even the basic rhythm of traffic lights.
The timing is erratic, the signals inconsistent, and the “stop-and-go” pattern borders on absurdity.
For drivers, it’s a daily exercise in frustration and confusion. What exactly is the logic behind deploying traffic marshals at intersections already controlled by traffic lights?
And worse still — what sense does it make to install two sets of lights barely 50 metres apart, like at Bargetuny Junction and Paradise?
If this is an attempt to justify some bloated expenditure, then it’s an insult to both logic and public intelligence.
This is not planning — it’s bureaucratic theatre, a choreographed show of confusion funded by taxpayers.
Traffic management should be about efficiency, not ego.
It should rely on systems, not human guesswork standing under blinking lights that already do the job.
Yet here we are — a county where redundancy is mistaken for progress, and incompetence masquerades as innovation.
If this is what “development” looks like, then it’s nothing but a glossy façade over rot, waste, and ignorance.
Governance has turned into a spectacle — one where failure is repackaged as effort, and taxpayers are expected to applaud.
Has Eldoret traffic lights helps ease flow of motorists?
It is both baffling and infuriating to witness the ongoing mismanagement of traffic flow in our county.
Consider the Korosiot Roundabout — a structure purpose-built to regulate traffic naturally, ensuring continuous flow, minimizing stops, and reducing accidents.
Yet, in a confounding twist of logic, traffic lights have been installed at these very points.
Rather than enhancing efficiency, these dysfunctional and poorly timed lights have turned roundabouts into choke points — creating gridlock where there should be movement, and confusion where there should be clarity.
The entire philosophy of a roundabout — self-regulating, fluid motion — has been betrayed by misguided tinkering.
This fiasco is not an isolated lapse; it is symptomatic of a deeper malaise — decision-making devoid of technical competence, professional input, or accountability.
Urban planning is not theatre. It demands expertise, evidence, and discipline.
Yet what we see is governance intoxicated by optics and political theatrics, where appearances eclipse substance.
Our county deserves better — leaders who think, plan, and consult before imposing chaos disguised as progress.
Infrastructure must serve the people, not ensnare them in perpetual traffic jams born of poor judgment.
Good governance isn’t about decorative lights and cosmetic projects; it’s about function, intelligence, and foresight — virtues that seem to be in perilously short supply within our current leadership.
N/B: Views in this article are the authors. They do not reflect the position of Uasin Gishu News
