Kakamega families seek help over killer bridge

Teresa Shivayanga sits under her old granary holding her chin as she ponders life without her husband.

At 70, life has become cruel. She now has to fend for a family of seven all alone.

It is hardly a week since her husband died in the waters of the rickety River Isiukhu. Her husband Peter Shikombe was the sixth person killed at the Isiukhu foot bridge, leaving residents of Shimanyiro, Shiseso and Mumbaka in Kakamega County in shock.

Fear is rife across the lush green villages because no emergency measures have been put in place despite prospects of El Nino rains and floods hitting the area in about two weeks. As families who lost their loved ones come to terms with the deaths, they are appealing to the national and county governments to ensure a new bridge is erected to avert calamities.

Shivayanga, who hails from Mumbetsa village, lost her husband on August 12, 2015 while crossing this notorious bridge of death.

“We had gone for the burial of a relative and on our way back, my husband, accompanied by two of our children, lost balance and fell into the water. The child who was behind him got scared and ran into a nearby forest and on realising his father needed help, he came out and alerted those at the funeral but it was too late. He had already been swept away by the water to the other end, 6km from the scene,” Shivayanga said.

• .

  Keep Reading

• 
  Destruction, injuries as heavy rains pound
• 
  Love, hate business: The captivating web that entangled Kitany and Linturi
• 
  Kakamega county hires 14 doctors on contract
• 
  Kakamega County to pay man Sh200,000 for trespass

Shivayanga said her husband was the sole bread winner and taking care of the seven children has proved a challenge. “We spent three sleepless nights searching for his body and with the help of neighbours, we retrieved him at the bank of the river,” Shivayanga said.

She added: “If the bridge was constructed, my husband would not have died. His death is a blow to the family and society because many people depended on him. The national and county governments should help us by constructing a modern bridge in good time,” she said. Hilary Liyayi, a businessman, says the bridge should be constructed because it is crucial to movement in the area for everyone, including children. “Isikhu bridge is dangerous. More than six people have died while crossing it and if safety measures are not taken on time, we are afraid more lives might be lost. Residents go for treatment at Shiseso Hospital and pupils learning at Eshisere Primary School situated across,” Liyayi said.

Nicholas Emonje, a resident of Shimanyiro, said the river links Shimanyiro village, Shiseso and Mumbaka. “The local MCA put up a make-shift bridge to help residents cross the other side but when it rains, it is slippery and people fall inside water and drown. There was a case of a woman who died while crossing the bridge together with her daughter. Drunkards have also become victims,” Emonje noted.

Residents says Kakamega leaders should ensure the bridge is constructed, saying it is the shortest route to the nearby markets.

Emonje says it will boost transportation and spur economic growth of the county. The areas is fertile and produces foods crops such as groundnuts, maize, beans, indigenous vegetables and tomatoes.

Daniel Lichoti Shiseso, a resident said: “Teachers, pupils and business people face difficulties during rainy seasons while trying to cross the bridge. And when it rains heavily, the bridge is slippery and many people end up falling in the water. Pupils waste a lot of time crossing it which can be converted to learning hours,” Lichoti said.

Collins Matemba, the Kakamega County Transport, Infrastructure and Public Works executive said the Isiukhu bridge has not been budgeted for in this year's budget.

“We are not aware of this particular bridge but will include it in the next budget,” Matemba said.

He, however, said in this financial year, the county has set aside adequate funds for construction and maintenance of roads.