Embu Senator Alexander Mundigi has come to the rescue of Kibugua Village residents in Manyatta Constituency after a section of road passing through the village was rendered impassable by the ongoing rains.
Residents have lamented that a section of the Kirigi-Kiangoci gravel road turns into a swamp every time it rains, cutting off transport and isolating the community.
They said their plea to authorities for a permanent solution to the recurring problem has not borne any fruit.
Residents thanked Senator Mundigi for coming to their rescue by donating several tracks of murram to provide a stop-gap measure to make the road passable as they wait for a permanent solution.
Resident Alice Ruguru said they are forced to physically carry their children on their back across the flooded section of the road to get to school.
“This road serves two schools on either side of the flooded section, and we are forced to carry children on our backs to navigate the section and get them to school,” she said.
She called on authorities to engage landowners neighbouring the section to provide a drainage corridor to end their suffering.
“Without provision of a proper drainage channel, the problem will keep recurring,” said another resident, James Nyaga, who called on the authorities to initiate talks with landowners.
Senator Mundigi echoed his sentiments, calling on leaders to initiate formal wayleave negotiations with landowners for a drainage corridor that will bring an end to the problem.
Area Assistant County Commissioner Syliva Ochola promised to organise a meeting with landowners’ other stakeholders to address the root cause that is the lack of a wayleave to drain the water.
By Samuel Waititu
