lowereas
Residents of Kabare and neighbouring areas in Gichugu, Kirinyaga County are grappling with major transport disruptions after floods washed away the Kiringa Bridge, a key link connecting several communities to essential services.
The bridge, which served as a vital route for residents, traders and farmers, was swept away by raging floodwaters following heavy rains in the area. A temporary structure that had been put in place earlier was also carried away, leaving residents stranded and forcing motorists to seek longer alternative routes.
Motorists travelling from Kimunye to Kerugoya are now being forced to use longer detours through the Kabare–Kutus Road or the Kabare Kiamiciri route, significantly increasing travel time and transport costs.
The destruction of the bridge has dealt a major blow to local livelihoods, particularly farmers who rely on the route to transport their produce to markets.
Residents say the situation has also raised serious safety concerns. Elias Migwi warned that the temporary footbridge currently in place may not withstand the swelling waters of River Kiringa if the heavy rains persist.
Parents are especially worried about the safety of their children who must cross the area daily to attend school. Jane Wanjiru said many families are now forced to wake up much earlier than usual to ensure pupils can cross before water levels rise further, allowing them to reach Kabare Primary School.
The impact is also being felt in the agricultural sector. According to Stephen Mwangi, transporting coffee to factories has become difficult, while delivering milk to collection centres has also become a challenge due to the lack of a reliable crossing point.
Mwangi added that access to healthcare has also been affected. He recently had to spend almost double the usual fuel travelling from Kabare Dispensary to Kerugoya Hospital after discovering that the dispensary had run out of medicine.
Some residents have criticised the contractor handling the bridge project, accusing them of poor planning and poor timing. They questioned why construction was undertaken during the rainy season when the risk of flooding was high.
Gatumu Nyuki said the project had sufficient time to be completed earlier but was instead carried out during heavy rains, which ultimately led to the structure being washed away.
Residents say the incident highlights the urgent need for better infrastructure planning and stronger disaster preparedness measures to protect communities from the impact of extreme weather.
They are now calling on the authorities to urgently intervene and restore the bridge to ease movement and prevent further disruption to daily life in the affected communities.
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