School Children Risks Hippo Attacks due to Collapsed Bridge

According to the residents of the two villages, the collapse of the bridge poses several threats to them as it has been the main link between the two neighboring counties. Led by Wambua Kiviatu, the residents explain the litany of problems they go through.

Wambua said that the biggest challenge is to the school-going children who risk their lives every morning as they use boats to cross the deep Chania River filled with hippos.

Source: Kenya News Agency, school children riding on a boat.

“ This is a big risk especially for the young school-going children who cross this river almost every day, there’s an imminent risk posed by an almost collapsing part of the riverbank, there are also dangerous hippos deep in the water,” Wambua said. 

Also of concern to the residents is the proximity between the crossing point and the waterfall which makes the flow of the water swift, posing danger to the kids. 

Source: African news, school-going children, women riding on a boat

With the deep depth of the Chania river, parents fear for the safety of their children while going to school thus calling upon the area leaders to intervene. 

Economically, the two villages say their economic interaction has been tampered with by the collapse of the main link, leaving many residents jobless. 

For bodaboda operators, making ends meet has become an issue as people and most traders have ceased their business thanks to poor links.  Julius Mutonga, a bodaboda operator plying both counties said that sustaining the business is quite hard as they have to pay boat owners each time they cross the river.

“We have to pay a hundred shillings to be able to cross the river, my customer also has to pay fifty shillings, this is making this business hard to sustain,” Mutonga said. 

The residents have therefore urged the leadership from both counties to intervene and solve the stalemate. 

Speaking in Thika town during roads construction inspection tour, Thika town MP engineer Patrick Wainaina Wajungle and his Gatanga counterpart Nduati Ngugi assured the residents the bridge will not only be reconstructed but it will be done within the shortest time possible. 

The MPs said they have consulted with KERRA engineers from both counties to facilitate the Construction.