A resident of Gathambara village crossing a makeshift bridge across Mathioya River/ALICE WAITHERA
Residents of Gathambara village in Mathioya constituency are building a gabion to support a makeshift bridge across Mathioya River/ALICE WAITHERAFor years, residents of Gathambara village in Mathioya subcounty trekked for tens of kilometres to access their farms across the Mathioya River.
The vast river, renowned for taking lives during floods, made it a difficult task for them to till their land.
Things got better when a well-wisher helped them establish a temporary bridge – but that collapses every time it rains.
James Kimani, a resident, said rebuilding the bridge has become a daunting task as they are forced to use their resources to put it up time and again.
Without it, they are cut off from the villages across the river, with which they are interdependent.
“We have our farms and family members living in villages across the river. The size of the river makes it impossible to go through the river to the other side,” he said.
The poor state of the bridge puts their lives at risk as they go about their daily activities, Kimani noted, adding that their attempts to reach out to the local leadership for help have been futile.
Kimani said the neglect from the county and national governments has left them to their own means.
“It has been very challenging for us yet we have leaders. Without this bridge, the economy of our village is badly devastated. We need to sell and buy farm produce and other commodities.”
The bridge was first put up in 2020, when a resident helped them make a metallic bridge, but it was wrecked by heavy floods the same year.
“This bridge connects Mathioya and Kiharu constituencies. Since the metallic one was destroyed by rains, we have been remaking it with logs and risking our lives as we cross it daily,” he added.
The residents were reprieved when another well-wisher facilitated them to establish gabions to support the makeshift bridge and sustain it through the coming rain season.
Dickson Muiruri from Njathi Mwinga Foundation said they helped the villagers establish six gabions to safeguard their lives.
“It would be unfortunate if this bridge collapses and causes loss of life,” he said.
One of the locals, Richard Thuo, said the gabion will support the bridge as they await more help from the government.
He observed that the bridge will still not last, challenging both levels of government to come in and help them.
“This hanging bridge provides the help we need now but it’s only temporary. If we can get a bigger bridge that can be used by motorbikes, it would be very helpful to us,” Thuo said.
He added that the villagers are apprehensive especially when children use the makeshift bridge due to the risk of falling into the river.
To access any social activities across the river, they are forced to walk for hours to access the village, Thuo told journalists.
“When we have burial ceremonies, the delegation cannot use this flimsy bridge. We also don’t trust it enough to use it in large groups,” he added.
Children attending the nearby Kambara Secondary School from the neighbouring Kiharu constituency also face difficulties accessing the school.
Alice Muthoni said, “I had a son schooling at Mukurwe wa Nyagathanga Secondary, and eventually, I was forced to get him alternative accommodation because it's too dangerous to cross the river when it rains.”
She said many of the locals have ventured into French beans farming along the river bank, but transporting them to Mukurwe wa Nyagathanga shopping centre – where buyers pitch camp – has been a tall order.
Carrying bulky luggage such as fodder is also difficult because the hanging bridge is too narrow.
