Following persistent outcry by Ijara Sub-county residents over the sorry state of Masalani Bridge, the only shorter link between the area and the rest of the Country, a high level team from the Kenya National Highway Authority (KeNHA), Nairobi, visited the bridge for inspection.
The team who included civil engineers and accompanied by local leaders and elders, assessed the Bridge that connects areas south of Garissa County with Hola in Tana River through to Mombasa and Nairobi that is a crucial connection lifeline for the residents.
The bridge is on a brink of collapse following heavy rains that damaged it, particularly on the western side of Boji area, where the gabions were washed away last year by flood waters, when the River Tana burst its banks.
Area leaders including Garissa Senator, Abdul Mohamed Haji, Ijara Legislator, Abdi Ali Sheikhow Former Ijara County Council Chairman, Mr. Mohamed Gure, and Masalani watchdog group leader, Mr. Abdullahi Abdi, are calling on the government to consider constructing a new bridge at Masalani-Wenje area where they say is much more stable and safer.
Masalani self-floating Bridge is an important infrastructure that connects Ijara, Bothai and Holugho Sub-counties of Garissa to Tana River, Nairobi, Mombasa and the County Headquarters in Garissa.
The business community had raised red-flag over the precarious state of the bridge that is used by motorists including heavy commercial vehicles transporting merchandise to and from the area.
The inspection team that included officials from the Kenya Aviation Authority also assessed the Masalani Airstrip to find out the extent of damage by the El Niño induced rains with an aim of kicking off repair works.
By Mohamed Dahir
