Hundreds of Kikoneni residents risk their lives every time they cross crocodile-infested River Ramisi.
This is due to the sorry state of the dilapidated Mwachande bridge. This is the only crossing point for Kikoneni residents.
The unstable woody bridge has taken more than seven years to be repaired since it was destroyed by heavy rains.
Residents said that the September-October short rains destroyed the temporary wooden bridge further.
Recently, a 14-year-old boy from Kivuleni village escaped death after he was attacked by a crocodile. He was seriously injured.
A mother, Asha Hassan, said one of her sons fell off the bridge and was rescued by nearby pedestrians, forcing him to miss the 2019 KCPE exams.
“Many children are unable to use this passage. My son almost died as he was trying to go to school but luckily good Samaritans saved him,” she said.
Another villager Bakari Hassan said people pay Sh100 daily to the youth as a fee for their efforts of temporarily holding the bridge together.
Hassan said the channel has been poorly constructed, risking the lives of residents.
“The bridge is supported by a few strong blocks of wood but with the frequent movement of loaded boda bodas it is likely to give in sooner than expected,” he said.
The Mwachande bridge road connects people to Kinango-Lunga Lunga-Vanga. About seven villages depend on it.
Coast Development Authority (CDA) director Mshenga Rugha said the Mwachande's bridge plight was highlighted and discussed for long, and they fail to understand why real action was not taken.
"There is money for such activities, but individuals misappropriate it," Rugha said.
The CDA director urged the national government to intervene to prevent disasters.
