The newly made makeshift bridge across the Rwamuthambi River in Kirinyaga County/ALICE WAITHERA
For decades, residents of Njoga and Karia-ini village in Ndia
constituency, Kirinyaga county, have been carrying farm produce on their backs
due to the poor state of the road connecting the two villages.
Despite numerous pledges by leaders every electioneering period,
the residents are left struggling to undertake their daily activities with no
one to turn to.
Recently, the residents decided to take matters into their hands
and construct a makeshift bridge across river Rwamuthambi that would enable
bodabodas to easily access the two areas.
Previously, bodabodas would be forced to use a long route that
cost residents about Sh300 per trip, which most found too expensive and
resorted in using footpaths to access other areas.
According to Cecilia Wanjohi, a resident of Njoga village, the
plans kicked off after it was agreed that each household would contribute some
money towards the project.
“We used the money to procure construction materials that we needed and then agreed to work on the bridge in turns,” she said.
Residents work on a bridge across Rwamuthambi river in Kirinyaga county/ALICE WAITHERAThis, she said, is expected to bring to an end transportation difficulties that they have had to grapple with, making it difficult for them to eke a living.
Wanjohi added that by the time their farm produce gets to the market, it’s too expensive and unable to compete against produce from other areas due to high transportation costs.
“We have elected leaders for decades and they come to our villages and see our challenges, and have never seen the need to help us despite our pleas,” she said.
The resident said they acquired timber from nearby farms and used sacks full of soil to support the makeshift bridge from underneath.
Jecinta Wakiine on her part said they have been incurring huge expenses as they seek government and other social services such as health care and accessing markets, and coffee factories.
Wakiine stated that their patience grew thin, especially with the rains that made the river risky to cross, endangering their lives.
The county government had procured a piece of land on the
river banks on which the national government had pledged to build a permanent
bridge.
Residents of Njogu-ini and Karia-ini village during the construction of a makeshift bridge across Rwamuthambi river in Kirinyaga county/ALICE WAITHERA
The residents accused their MP
George Kariuki of failing to fight for their interests despite being in office
for three years.
They said Kariuki who is the chairperson of the roads committee in the national assembly has failed to lobby for projects that can improve their lives.
They said the makeshift bridge cannot be used by vehicles which still limits transportation between the two areas and urged their leaders to keep their promise of building a permanent one in due course.
“We have constructed this bridge to help with our daily activities but we still hope that a better one will be built so we can use vehicles to transport our produce”.
Elijah Kimani challenged the MP to ensure the bridge is upgraded saying it plays a vital role in the economy of the two villages.
He wondered why local leaders left them to their means when they have access to government resources.
