Kiharu residents get new bridge replacing ‘killer’ one

Residents of Gaturi and Kambirwa villages in Murang’a County have a reason to smile after a sturdy steel bridge was constructed, replacing a ‘killer bridge’ that has claimed many lives in the recent past.

Karumia Bridge was constructed to ease passage for livestock and pedestrians during the rainy season.

According to the residents, their lives were in danger and the new bridge – that connects the villages divided by a river – will provide all-season access to both sides of the village as well as services and markets.

“We are grateful that we can safely and quickly cross the river now. In the past, access to the other side of the village was almost entirely blocked during the rainy season due to frequent flooding,” one of the residents, only identified as Nderitu, said.

The three-metre long bridge was constructed at a cost of Ksh 1.8 million.

Kiharu Member of Parliament, Irungu Kang’ata, said that not only adults are beneficiaries of the new bridge, but also school-going children.

“We are glad that children can now attend school even during rainy days unlike before where students from Kambirwa village could not attend school located on the other side of Gaturi,” he said.

Written by Chebet Birir