Construction work has resumed on an unfinished Kangemi footbridge that has been notorious for causing injuries and even death due to the precarious state it has been in.
The dangerous footbridge, that has remained in the state for close to ten years, has made commuting from one side to the other a challenge as residents had to resort to crossing underneath it, on the busy Waiyaki way, putting their lives at risk, hence the deaths and injuries over time.
It was only recently that Kangemi residents took to the streets calling for its completion, apparently leading to action being taken by the relevant authorities.
Late November this year, residents and traders from Kangemi, Kabete and Kitusuru held peaceful demonstrations over the stalled bridge project citing public safety and need for proper infrastructure as a major concern and urged the government to expedite its completion.
They also noted the need for proper pedestrian walkways and safe crossing points, that lack of which has often led to accidents and hindered their mobility.
The bridge is pivotal for traders in the area who use it to transport goods to and from the normally busy Kangemi market. Traders come from as far as Kikuyu town to conduct their businesses in the area and have to navigate the dangerous bridge from time to time.
The residents said that there have been many promises about the completion of the bridge in the past but nothing had been done, appreciating that it has now started.
“Every two or three days we hear new cases of serious injury to area residents, mainly traders, who use this dangerous bridge on a daily basis. It gets worse when it rains and just recently a boy fell from the bridge and broke his spinal cord and is now at Kenyatta hospital for the past three weeks,” lamented Margaret Nafula, a small-scale vendor from Uthiru town who goes to Kangemi market on a daily basis to sell her products.
The residents from within Kangemi and its environs, having held a meeting with the Cabinet Secretary for roads, Davis Chirchir in November, had discussed delivery and timely completion of the bridge and its access roads and were assured the works will begin in December.
During the meeting, the CS received a petition from the various groups represented, and assured them of the Government’s commitment to swiftly complete key infrastructure projects, including the Kangemi Bridge, Gitaru Interchange, and Rironi Interchange all aimed at enhancing seamless connectivity along the northern corridor.
“I am happy to see construction work has begun and we will finally get our wish because we have truly suffered trying to cross the bridge for many years now,” says Hezekiah Maina.
He told KNA that upon its completion local shops and other businesses in the area are likely to see an increase in customers thus stimulating even more economic growth in the area.
“The footbridge can serve as a catalyst for community engagement and development activities which will improve our quality of life, which can, in turn, attract more residents and businesses,” Maina says.
By Xavier Brian
