Residents of Migori Town have urged the County government of Migori to reconstruct the collapsed Ombo Bridge that used to connect Suna East and West Sub Counties.
The bridge, which used to serve Kadika, Ombo and Jua Kali areas in Migori town, collapsed in 2020 when the ravaging floods swept away the holding rims of the bridge.
The bridge, which was constructed across the river Migori in 2010 under the leadership of the former Suna-Migori Member of Parliament, John Pesa, acted as the shortest route to town, evading the heavy traffic of Migori town.
The newly World Bank constructed Sh. 82 million Ombo market has also been affected by the non-existence of the bridge which acts as a link between Ombo, Marindi and Soko Mjinga markets.
Peter Opondo, a resident of Kadika, acknowledged that the residents are forced to use the long route through Migori town, which is always characterised by heavy traffic.
“Majority of traders used to ferry their produce across the bridge to do their business at Ombo and Kadika but since the bridge collapsed, they have preferred to stay and do their businesses at Marindi and Soko Mjinga,” noted Opondo.
Opondo affirmed that the newly constructed Ombo market has not attracted potential buyers and sellers because of the lack of easy accessibility.
Residents of Suna East and Suna West have been forced to use boat services that charge Sh 10 daily. Faith Atieno, a trader at Marindi Market in Migori, said that it was quite expensive to transport their produce by boat.
“The boat charges Sh10 per trip per person, while our goods will also be charged differently, making it economically unviable. The boat cannot ferry heavy produce across the river Migori,” said Atieno.
She called upon the county management to swing into action and reconstruct the bridge to ease the pain of transport across the Migori River.
Migori Municipal Administrator Mr. George Olumwa, however, affirmed recently that the municipality was working around the clock to see how fit to reconstruct the Ombo Bridge to connect Ombo Market and Migori Town.
By Geoffrey Makokha
