Residents of Mwiba in Likuyani Sub County Kakamega County and counterparts from Waitaluk in Kiminini Sub County, Trans Nzoia County have called on leaders to construct a bridge across River Nzoia to connect and ease transportation between the two counties.
Led by Messrs Charles Ihiro Mamboleo and Jonathan Angolio Wasike, they said they were going through a hard time in an attempt to cross the River since the crossing locally known as mfunje which they were depending on collapsed and was washed away by water about six years ago.
They said accessing services across the two counties has been a challenge for the last six years and it worsens during the rainy seasons. “We had children who used to cross this river to go to school in either of the counties but we were forced to transfer them to
different schools after the crossing collapsed,” said Mamboleo.
They also said business activities between the two Counties had greatly been affected by the lack of a bridge to link them.
Due to lack of the bridge, the residents have resorted to a motor vehicle tube as the only means they can use to cross the river thus risking their lives in the process.
When the tides are so high they are forced to travel all the way to Moi’s bridge to cross the river which is too expensive.
Peter Wafula who was behind the idea of helping the locals cross the river on motor vehicle tubes says he took the initiative after witnessing people drowning as they tried to cross
the river.
However, he says he offers the service at a fee, whereby carrying one person or luggage across the river is Kshs. 20 per person or bag. Wafula articulates that since he started the work no one has died as a result of drowning in the river in that area.
He said in case the tube gets punctured in the middle of the river he swims across with his passenger to the other end though he said this rarely happens.
The residents are now urging local leaders from the region to construct a better bridge that will last longer and help them get services easily saying some of them fear risking their lives by crossing on tubes which are rowed across the river. “We appeal to Governors Patrick Khaemba of Trans Nzoia and Wycliffe Oparanya of Kakamega together with MPs Enoch Kibunguchy of Likuyani and Chris Wamalwa of Kiminini to help us construct a bridge here,” they said.
