Bondo Municipal Board will undertake another survey of Bondo bus park after a section of stakeholders disputed the outcome of the initial exercise which revealed heavy encroachment of the public facility by traders and private developers.
Speaking during public participation that brought all stakeholders of the bus park together to discuss how the public utility can be operationalized, the municipal manager, Philip Mbidio, said the board had resolved to undertake a re-survey next week to ensure every stakeholder is satisfied with the demarcated boundaries.
Bondo bus park has remained operational for years due to disagreements between owners of premises construed around the bus park and the transporters despite the county government of Siaya sinking in over Sh 200 million for land purchase and refurbishments.
Mbidio said that the planned walling of the bus park and demolition of structures that have encroached the bus park would affect masses and therefore everyone must be brought on board to avoid legal battles.
“We undertook a survey to demarcate the boundaries of our bus park and we realized that there was heavy encouragement and many businesses premises and private home will have to be demolished to give away for expansion of the bus park.
Some people have already contested the survey results and for us to bring everyone on board we have invited them to bring their private surveyors as we bring our county government surveyors to find an amicable solution” said Mbidio
The manager disclosed that after the re-survey, the municipal board will give a two-week notice to owners of business premises that have encroached the facility to vacate and allow for demolition to be undertaken.
Mbidio who was flanked by the municipal board member Loice Odhiambo commended residents of Bondo who turned up for the public participation for backing the county government on making sure that the bus park is made operational.
On her part Odhiambo asked the residents of Bondo to allow for infrastructural development in the town to attract more investors.
She revealed that the Bondo bus park project is key for Governor James Orengo which the municipal board is committed to delivering to the people of Bondo.
Odhiambo said the bus park project is one of the tangible developments the board will be proud to have delivered within its first five years.
Bondo bus park challenges have remained a thorn in the flesh of the county government of Siaya with buses and other public service vehicles picking up passengers by the road causing heavy traffic snarl-ups and posing accident risks in Bondo town.
By Brian Ondeng
