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Kiambu and Machakos counties along Thika Athi collapsed, paralysing economic activities conducted in the two ridges, residents are still struggling to cross the dangerous river.

Men, women and school-going children have resorted to using makeshift boats to cross the river that is heavily infested with hippos, a situation that has put their lives at risk.

Since the bridge at Donyo Sabuk collapsed stalling movement activities in the area, businesspersons and motorists using the link to transport food items, construction materials among other items regret that their operations have been negatively disrupted, almost turning them into beggars.

Permanent intervention

The devastating effects of the recently subsided heavy rains has since seen a section of the traders shut down their businesses while people who would have wished to travel to Thika town and villages within Machakos county, left stranded.

To the desperation of commuters, no one is able to cross from one ridge to the other save for those using the derelict boats, a serious problem that residents say requires prompt and permanent intervention.

Residents led by Emily Nyathira and Simon Mutuku agitated for a solution to the occurrence saying that nothing has been done to ensure their lives continue after the collapse. “We are asking the government to address this challenge to avert deaths along the hippo-infested Athi river. Our major concern is our children who have to cross the river every day as they go to school,” said Nyathira.

Speaking when they toured the area, Jubilee Party Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni and Thika businessman David Kariuki Ngari called out the government for disregarding the plight of locals.

They regretted that the boats currently being used to cross locals including children from one ridge to the other are not in good shape and a disaster is looming unless prompt interventions are made to reconstruct the bridge.