By Kei Emmanuel Duku
Chairperson of the Kajo Keji County Organization, Aggrey Tisa Sabuni, has urged citizens to consider pooling resources for the construction of the Kajo-Keji Juba Highway.
Sabuni said that waiting for government intervention would be futile.
He highlighted a previous community-led effort, noting that an earlier road construction project, despite being compacted, lasted less than two years. This prompted drivers to mobilize resources.
Sabuni further recounted how, during Ben Yengi’s tenure as Commissioner of Kajo-Keji County, he contributed $5,000, with an additional $20,000 from President Salva Kiir.
This money was used to repair culverts, potholes, and other dangerous spots along the highway, serving road users for a decade.
Sabuni made these remarks during the installation of the new Kajo Keji County Commissioner at Mere Freedom Square.
He recalled that the last time the Kajo-Keji-Juba Road was constructed by Civilcon Engineering and Construction Company, it did not last long.
He appealed to the new Commissioner to immediately initiate community-driven fundraising efforts, encouraging contributions from Kajo-Keji County citizens both within the country and in the diaspora, to reconstruct the vital road.
“If we are to wait for the government to come and reconstruct the Kajo-Keji-Juba Road, then we shall wait till sunset,” Sabuni stated. “Let us forget anything called government because we don’t know when they will think about this road. Our sons and daughters in the diaspora have shown interest in this community-driven initiative, so as the commissioner, your role is now to take action.”
The Kajo-Keji County community elder stressed that the notion of the general population anticipating the government to tarmac the Kajo-Keji-Juba Road should be re-evaluated.
He pointed out that previously, Kajo-Keji citizens contributed money to grade and label 7 kilometers of internal streets within the county, which significantly improved access to critical services. Therefore, he argued, there is no reason for the community to continue waiting for the government to reconstruct the main highway.
He also criticized a segment of the community that opposed the rehabilitation of the 7-kilometer road from Leikor Trading Centre up to Wudu Town. Instead, he called upon traditional leaders to mobilize the community, both financially and materially, to support any developmental initiative the new commissioner wishes to implement.
“This time we don’t want the contribution to be left to people of Juba alone,” he concluded. “Traditional chiefs, if it means you selling your cassava from your garden to have this road constructed, contribution should this time start with you throughout the commissioner. We need you to lead by example.”