Butere residents plead with government to repair bridge

Residents of Mulikanji village in Butere constituency have appealed to the government to repair a bridge that collapsed a month ago.

They said the collapse of the bridge has disrupted learning and access to health services and trade.

The bridge which linked the residents to Musango village in Mumias West constituency, collapsed in August during school holidays.

Alice Akungwi, a resident, said five school children who were using it to cross when it collapsed, were lucky to have survived.

“We would be having five funerals in this village if the children did not know how to swim,” she said.

Akungwi said that women who sell their vegetables and other farm produce at Imanga market are forced to spend extra money on boats to cross the river.

"The boat operators charge us Sh100 per person, per trip, which is eating into our profits," she said.

“Some Musango primary and secondary school children, whose parents are unable to meet the daily boat charges have been forced to stay at home since schools re-opened."

Some children have been forced to stay with relatives in Mumias East to continue learning.

Akungwi said women who have given birth to twins cannot cross the river since Luhya traditions do not allow them to sit in a boat.

If they did so their twin children would die.

Silas Mapesa said the collapse of the bridge has worsened the prevailing economic hardships.

“Women who survive on doing menial work are going hungry because they cannot cross the river to go and look for jobs,” he said.

“We are begging the government to intervene and have the bridge repaired.” 

Musango said access to medical services have also been difficult since the only dispensary serving the community is accross the river. 

“Sometimes a patient needs urgent attention but there is no one to operate the boat. This makes it difficult to assist such patient because you can’t move them in waters,” he said.

efforts to reach MP Tindi Mwale for comments were unsuccessful by the time of going to press.