Residents of two wards in Laikipia County have a reason to celebrate after the county government launched construction of a crucial bridge linking six villages ending four decades of waiting.
The Sh12.4million medium span bridge across River Sirimon will not only ease transport across Umande and Mukogodo East wards but will bring to and end drowning incidents that has characterized the area.
While launching the project, Governor Joshua Irungu who led a team of senior county officials noted that for over forty years since the previous bridge was swept by flood waters, locals have been travelling for up to eight kilometres to access a dispensary and a secondary school located a few metres across the ridge.
‘’This bridge has been a nightmare for the residents over the years, connecting Kalalu and Umande. It has been so difficult due lack of this bridge. As county, we are happy to launch it and it will be a game changer for the locals,” said the governor.
The bridge construction is set to be completed by June this year, bringing relief to traders, motorists, students, patents and boda boda operators who have been relying on poorly constructed makeshift bridges that many times have resulted in loss of life and properties.
The governor assured the affected residents of timely completion of the project noting that the contractor is already on site and the budget the money required was set aside during this financial year’s budget.
Umande ward MCA Daniel Mugweru said that over the years, lack of bridge connecting the area had affected growth.
Residents praised the project noting that it was a major relief after years of suffering and walking long distances to access the main road.
According to Mary Muthoni, one of the residents, she revealed that on several occasions accidents had been witnessed due to lack of a proper bridge.
She said that following the launch, transporting farm produce to the market had also been made easy.
by Muturi Mwangi
