Residents of Melili ward in Narok North Sub County have expressed fears of being marooned in their villages after two bridges were swept by flash floods following a heavy downpour Sunday night.
One of the village elders, Thomas Ole Sopia said the bridges along the river Osonkoroi that connects Melili to Siyiapei area and Narok town was swept away during the downpour that lasted throughout the night.
Ole Sopia said the bridges made of timber were constructed by the villagers over ten years ago and have been instrumental in connecting the area to Narok town especially during rainy seasons when the river is swollen.
“This area is very rich in agricultural produce. The loss of the two bridges is a big blow to the farmers who use the bridges to transport their produce to the market,” reiterated Ole Sopia.
Another village elder Jackson Ole Kelesi called on the county government to intervene and help in constructing permanent bridges.
“We call on the county government to visit this area and assess the damage the rains have caused so that they can help in fixing this problem once and for all. It is very disturbing when the residents are unable to cross over to access markets because there is no bridge,” said Ole Kelesi.
Melili ward is one of the main food baskets in the county as it produces a lot of potatoes, cabbages, maize, wheat, carrots and green peas that are in demand by the town dwellers.
This comes at a time when a three-year-old boy died while four others were left nursing injuries after a mudslide that occurred at their home in Ololulunga area in Narok South Sub County on Saturday night.
Meanwhile, Narok North Sub County Police Commandant Frederick Siundu cautioned the residents against risking their lives crossing waterways in flood-prone areas during rainy season.
“I want to appeal to the locals to be very careful while crossing seasonal rivers or any other flooded river during this rainy season. I advise them to wait for the rains to subside before crossing to avert any possible death,” said Siundu.
By Ann Salaton
Agony as Flash Floods Sweep Bridges in Melili
