Why Thika church branded the smallest footbridge in town

The smallest footbridge in Thika town bears the name of one of the mainstream churches in Kenya.

The pedestrian bridge at the junction of Haile Selassie Road and Workshop Lane was built by the Presbyterian Church of East Africa (PCEA) in 2015 at a cost of Sh20,000 and they branded it.

According to Thika town branch Chairman Daniel Gitau Waithima, when they established the branch in 2014, they were shocked to learn how Thika Municipal Council and the subsequent County Government of Kiambu had overlooked the plight of pedestrians at that point.

Cases of pedestrians plunging into the drainage channel or getting knocked down along the busy Haile Selassie Road were common.

Most victims were the learners at the nearby Thika School for the Visually Impaired.

Locals and nearby school management approached the church to erect a bridge to avert tragedies.

“The visually impaired, old and children were suffering a lot. For years, authorities had ignored the cries of residents to build a simple footbridge, prompting us to prioritise the project in our corporate social responsibility programme,” Waithima told The Nairobian.

Adding, “They were inconsiderate. The area has two institutions, one being a primary school. Parents and teachers were worried about the kids.”

He said displaying the church’s name on the bridge was not intended to publicise the church, but to challenge others to carry out such projects where the authorities have turned a blind eye.

Boda boda and residents confirmed incidents of people, falling off the bridge, especially at night.

“Unsuspecting people, particularly revellers, were the major victims,” said Magdalene Wambui, a resident.