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.
Speaking to the press, Martin Karia, a local resident, said students are forced to navigate unsafe paths daily, putting their lives at risk.
“Our children struggle to get to school every day because the bridge is broken and the road is almost impassable,” he lamented.
Caroline Kangai, another resident, added that the poor infrastructure has made the road completely impassable for both cars and motorcycles, leaving the community virtually cut off.
“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,” she said.
Residents say they have already decided to organise a community Harambee to construct the bridge on their own if no action is taken soon.
They called on governor Muthomi Njuki and their Magumoni Ward MCA, Justin Kithinji, to intervene and help resolve the crisis.
Lucy Muthomi, a local farmer, emphasised the economic impact, noting that goods from local farms struggle to reach markets due to the poor state of the road and bridge.
“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 has expressed growing frustration over the lack of action, urging authorities to act before the situation worsens further, particularly for students and other vulnerable residents.
By Dickson Mwiti and Christine Ngitori
