Nairobi: Residents of Karamani in Tharaka Nithi County are appealing to the county government to urgently repair the deteriorating Kangati bridge and the Kirigi-Ciakarugu road, citing mounting challenges for schoolchildren, farmers, and the local business community.
According to Kenya News Agency, local resident Martin Karia highlighted the daily risks faced by students who must navigate unsafe paths due to the broken bridge and nearly impassable road conditions.
Karia lamented, "Our children struggle to get to school every day because the bridge is broken and the road is almost impassable." The sentiment was echoed by Caroline Kangai, another resident, who emphasized the dire state of the infrastructure, which has rendered the road inaccessible for both cars and motorcycles, effectively isolating the community.
Kangai further explained, "Farm produce like coffee and tea is hard to transport to markets. We are forced to use long and costly alternative routes, which has affected our livelihoods and increased insecurity, as the road is isolated and dangerous." In response to the lack of governmental action, residents are considering organizing a community Harambee to reconstruct the bridge themselves if no immediate measures are taken.
The residents have called on governor Muthomi Njuki and their Magumoni Ward MCA, Justin Kithinji, to intervene and resolve the crisis. Lucy Muthomi, a local farmer, underscored the economic impact, stating that the poor state of the road and bridge hampers the transportation of farm goods to markets.
"We have coffee, tea, and other produce ready for sale, but getting them to buyers has become a huge challenge, and using the longer routes is costly and time-consuming," she said. The community's frustration over the inaction is palpable, as they urge authorities to address the situation before it deteriorates further, particularly affecting students and other vulnerable residents.