It is a new beginning for the residents of Magarini, Kilifi County after the national government completed the construction of Bombi footbridge in Magarini sub-county of Kilifi.
The bridge was constructed at a cost of Sh120 million after the previous one was swept away by floods in 2018.
The new bridge will allow people, small cars ambulances, and even security vehicles to cross during emergencies making it easier for movement across the hippo and crocodile-infested river Galana.
A visit by top national government officials led by Engineer Hilary Nyaanga the Chief Engineer Structural from the State department public Works Ministry of Transport infrastructure Housing and Urban Development together with representatives of Magarini MP Michael Kingi who came to inspect and cemented their hopes that finally, the bridge is complete.
Addressing the residents after inspecting the complete bridge he said as a government he was satisfied that the project had been done perfectly and was ready for use.
He said that was the second bridge to be completed after the Shakahola Hawewanje Bridge which was also constructed by the Government at a cost of Sh. 116 million.
“My visit today was to ascertain the final inspection of the completion of this bridge, that all the work have been done according to the specification of the contract, this is what I came to check before organizing for the official handing over by the higher authorities in the national government,” he said.
He added they have been previously checking the progress of the project monthly from the beginning from setting up to pilling up, steelworks at the workshop, installation bolting and welding work, and painting which was as per the specification.
The Chief Engineer however raised concern about the manner in which locals vandalized the signpost and warned against moving to the bridge as it would affect the work done by the Government.
He also warned residents against allowing vandalists to vandalize the metal at the bridge and advised them to take care of the crucial facility for their own good.
Residents present during the inspection tour thanked President Uhuru Kenyatta’s government for building the bridge as it would enable them to cross the river easily and reduce cases of crocodile and hippo attacks.
However, they called on the government to build a sea wall to prevent the bridge from being brought down during floods.
Further, they called on the government to grade the road from the tarmac to the bridge which is six kilometres, and cross the bridge to Bombi village which is four kilometres long.
Joseph Mwaringa a resident of Bombi said it was important for the sea wall to be built as flooding could cause havoc due to the soil erosion being witnessed already that is so close to the bridge.
“We are also requesting for the road from here to the main road to be upgraded to cabro or murram because during rainfall it is impossible,” he said.
Robert Mweni another resident said the completion of the bridge will revive irrigation farming as they will now be able to plant horticultural crops which will easily be transported across the bridge to the market in Malindi.
Jane Nyanje another resident said women used to suffer a lot helping their children across the river which is highly infested by crocodiles and hippos.
“We thank the government led by our President Uhuru Kenyatta for building for us this bridge, it will ease things including doing business across the river, even patients will now be reached easily by ambulance during an emergency,” she said.
When the bridge was swept by floods Nyanje said she had complications and it took the whole day for the ambulance to reach Bombi and take her to hospital.
Samuel Kambi a Representative of MCA Stanley Kenga emphasized the need for protecting the wall of the river and construction of the road.
he said previously there were so many cases of attacks on humans by the crocodiles and hippos as people crossed on foot across the river which was dangerous.
“We had so many challenges here and when the donor came to build a footbridge it was a relief but because God has many plans the bridge was swept away by floods leaving the locals to suffer again,’ he said.
Samson Zia Kahindi the Liason officer of MP Adu Ward said they were happy to see the completion of the bridge adding that it would go a long way in boosting development in the area.
Idriss Malim the Personal Assistant of Magarini MP appealed to the national government to ensure they upgrade the road and build the sea wall to enable locals to live peacefully.
During the 2018 floods, residents suffered a big blow after the footbridge was swept away by floods that caused major losses in the area.
