Residents of Ilmotiok and Mulot wards in Narok West Sub County can breathe a sigh of relief after the County Government initiated the process of building a bridge along River Amalo to ease movement across the two wards.
The project construction was launched on Wednesday by Governor Patrick Ntutu, nine years after another bridge was swept away by the flooded river, leaving the residents to trek for longer kilometres to connect to the two wards.
“The project addresses a longstanding need for improved connectivity for residents travelling between Mulot central, Oloomiran, Ilmotiok, Sogoo, and the Sagamian area,” said the governor.
He added that the absence of the bridge had forced residents to take a longer route through the Mulot Sunset trading centre in Bomet County.
Ntutu observed that the challenge was caused by a previous contractor who abandoned the construction of the Mulot-Sogoo-Sagamian road, leaving the community without the critical infrastructure.
“Today, we hand over this project to another contractor whom we expect to do a commendable job in the shortest time possible,” he said.
Ntutu expressed confidence that the bridge will boost the economic status of the residents, as they will easily transport their goods to the market and use less time to get to critical facilities like hospitals and schools.
The Governor was accompanied by his Deputy Governor, Tamalinye Koech; Ilmotiok Member of County Assembly (MCA) Duncun Bore; and County Executive Member in charge of roads and infrastructure, John Gatua.
The residents praised the project, saying it will ease movement to the marketplaces and open up the area for investors to invest in their land.
Ms. Norah Chepkoech, a resident of the Ilmotiok area, said the construction of the bridge will ease transportation and enable the residents to get to their destinations on time at a cheaper cost.
She observed that the people who suffered most were pregnant mothers who were forced to use a long way to access the hospitals and school children who used alternative longer routes to get to school.
By Ann Salaton
