Residents concerned about hazardous river Kipkaren bridge

More disaster is beckoning at ‘Kiwanja Ndege’ bridge which hangs precariously across River Kipkaren in Lugari Sub County. Despite the fact that it has already claimed two lives residents have continued using it to cross the river without considering the danger it poses.

Speaking to West Media, residents led by Ms. Benta Auma and Dickson Wasilwa passionately appealed to leaders who include Kakamega County Governor Wycliffe Oparanya, Lugari MP Ayub Savula, Lugari ward Member of County Assembly Musa Wangila Makhapila and his Chekalini counterpart Kenneth Indusa to facilitate the rehabilitation of the bridge which connects Lugari and Chekalini wards.

Ms. Auma said in 2013 they presented their proposal to area MP Ayub Savula and requested the construction of a modern bridge and the MP promised to work on within two weeks but nothing has so far been done.

She added that during the campaign ahead of the last year’s August 8th general elections Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya sent a team of engineers and procurement officers to assess the site but again no progress has been made and it has not been factored in the budget.

They said it was regrettable how leaders had used the state of the bridge to gain political mileage as the locals continue suffering. “Already two people have lost their lives after falling off the bridge,” said Mr. Rasto Amimo a resident of Bondeni village in Chekalini ward.

On his part, Dickson Wasilwa lamented that communication had been inhibited for thousands of residents between Lugari on the other side and Chekalini. He said it served as a shortcut for Chekalini residents to access government offices at Lugari and Lumakanda.

Also, there were hundreds of children from Lugari side who cross the river to go to schools like Mwivona and Mulwanda primary in Chekalini ward while others crossed the river from Chekalini side to go to Kiwanja Ndege primary school in Lugari ward.

Mr. Peter Kimari said the situation was affecting business between the two sides as a majority of traders depend greatly on the crossing. “We have people who cross from Chekalini to trade and also work in Lugari and vice versa,” said Kimari

He said the river was a ticking bomb as residents continue to risk
their lives crossing over in pursuit of compulsory activities.

“It’s disappointing to see residents risk their lives by crossing the river in its current state but we can’t blame them because this is the shortest route across, instead of going all the way to Lugari station or Lumakanda which is over 20km away to reach our neighbouring Lugari sub-location,” said Pastor Risper Nanjala Makomere of Maranatha church.

The residents have called for urgent measures adding that it was incumbent upon leaders to come together and find a lasting solution. “We are appealing to our leaders to join together and lead the way in dealing with the situation we don’t want to lose more lives,” they said.