Students of Sango Primary, Sango Secondary, and Madelyne school in Webuye West constituency, Bungoma County are up in arms over a weak bridge that connects Sitikho ward where the schools are and East Sang’alo ward where most learners hail from.
The Deputy Principal Sango Friends Secondary School Wycliffe Wanyonyi appealed to area MPs, Dan Wanyama (Webuye West) and Wafula Wamunyinyi, (Kanduyi) to re-construct the bridge that connects the two wards and make it easy for learners and other residents.
Mr Wanyonyi who spoke to KNA confirmed that a temporary bridge that has been serving residents in the two wards was swept away recently following the swelling of Kuywa River on which it stood.
He said that currently half of the learners in the affected schools have to wade through the river every morning to come to school and back home in the evening, a process that results in lateness as it is time wasting and requires extra clothing.
“We stand to lose our students to other schools if area leaders do not take necessary measures and put up a permanent bridge by the new term,’’ he said
Sang’alo Sub-location Assistant Chief East Godfrey Simiyu confirmed that the situation was dire and requires urgent attention especially now that the long rains are setting in and may interfere with students who are sitting their national exams.
Joseck Waswa, a resident at Sango village stated that Governor Wangamati has been giving them empty promises whenever he visits in Sitikho and Sang’alo yet no action has been taken.
Mordecai Wamalwa a form three student at Sango Secondary school pleaded with the county government to help erect a new bridge across the river especially during the April holiday so that the situation is better when schools re-open in May.
He added that female learners are forced to remove their uniforms whenever they swim across the river and said some have from time to time lost their books to the raging waters.
by Lydia Wanaswa and Roseland Lumwamu
