By Christopher Omondi
Residents of the Railways Ward in Kisumu County are voicing their concerns about the condition of the Mbita-Awaya Bridge, which connects the areas of Kasarani, Segasega, and Kamakowa to essential services, including Kudho Comprehensive School. Originally constructed with an estimated budget of KSH 4.5 million, community members are dissatisfied with the quality of work done and are calling for urgent repairs and accountability from the Kisumu County government.
According to residents, the contractors have consistently performed shoddy work, resulting in several areas becoming inaccessible. “The contractor for the project should be held accountable for the substandard work,” one community member stated. “For example, if you are at Kasarani and need to go to Pap Mbuta, you either have to take a longer route via the tarmac road, which increases travel time and costs, or navigate through people’s compounds or use makeshift bridges, leading to security issues. Those allowing by-passes through their homes have experienced theft.”
The bridge’s condition has also impacted the movement of students attending Kudho Comprehensive School, which includes early childhood education, primary, and junior secondary levels. Many students are particularly affected during the rainy season when the River Awaya floods. Additionally, residents express concerns about safety and hygiene, as stagnant wastewater on parts of the bridge poses health risks, particularly for diseases like malaria and bilharzia.
Residents are frustrated that the Kisumu County government has not yet addressed their concerns regarding the Mbita-Awaya Bridge. No assessments have been conducted to evaluate the bridge’s impact on the community. They are urging the County government to prioritize urgent repairs to make the bridge safe and accessible.
“The lack of response from the Kisumu County government regarding our grievances about the bridge is disappointing,” one resident noted. “We have raised these issues at various public forums, but nothing has been done. We now call for immediate renovations and ongoing maintenance to ensure safe accessibility and to implement effective governance that can improve the economic status of our area, which is currently falling behind.” This is by Moses Asuma, who is an activist from the area.
