- Residents of Suguranda in Bomet County have raised the alarm over the poor state of Suguranda Bridge, which has become dangerous for schoolchildren.
- Parents have said they have been forced to escort their children daily and have repeatedly appealed for repairs without success.
- The residents have called on the county government to use El Niño preparedness funds to repair the bridge before heavy rains cut off the village.
Residents of Suguranda in Bomet County have raised concern over the poor state of Suguranda Bridge, saying it poses a danger to school-going children.
They said the bridge has become increasingly risky to use, forcing some parents to abandon their daily activities to accompany their children to and from school.
Led by residents Martha Kirui and Joyce Malel, they said they have raised the matter several times but no action has been taken. Speaking in the area, Kirui said the situation has left many families worried, particularly with the prospect of heavy rainfall.
“We have raised this issue several times, but nothing has been done. Some of us are forced to leave our work and other activities just to escort our children to school because we fear for their safety,” Kirui said.
Malel said the bridge is an important link between the village and Bomet town, and its poor condition is disrupting movement. She said children who use the bridge daily to access school are now afraid of crossing it.
“This bridge connects us to Bomet town. Our children use it every day to go to school, yet they are now afraid of crossing it because of its condition,” Malel said.
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The residents want authorities to consider using funds set aside for El Niño preparedness to repair or reconstruct the bridge before heavy rains cause further damage. They criticised the county government, accusing it of neglecting the area despite repeated appeals.
Kirui said residents fear the bridge could be swept away during heavy rains and cut off the village from Bomet town. She said such an occurrence would make it harder for children to access school and for residents to access essential services.
“If the rains come when the bridge is in this state, it could easily be swept away. That would leave us cut off and make it even harder for our children to get to school and for residents to access essential services,” she said.
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The residents also called for enhanced disaster preparedness in the area, saying safety should be prioritised as the region braces for heavy rains.
“We are not asking for much. We want the authorities to act before a disaster happens. The bridge should be made safe, and El Niño preparedness should be strengthened,” Malel said.
They urged the county government and other relevant agencies to urgently assess the bridge and undertake repairs to avert possible loss of lives and disruption of transport.
By Kimutai Langat
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