Anxiety as Enziu River bridge yet to be completed two years after school bus tragedy

The Enziu River Bridge in Mwingi promised by the government two years ago after a school bus was swept away claiming 32 lives has never been completed.

At the onset of El Nino rains, the River Enziu Bridge that links the Nuu and Nguuni areas of Mwingi sub-county is only about 40% done. 

The residents want the government to fast-track construction, which is virtually at a standstill, reiterating that the Enziu River is a disaster in waiting. 

On Wednesday in Mwingi East, Kitui County, heavy rains pounded on the Eastern part of Kenya and with every drop, the Enziu River is slowly filling up and the stretch, along the Nuu/Nguuni road is still in a deplorable state.

 “Maji iko hapa imefungwa tumekaa kama 2 hours tukingojea ipungue na saa hii bado haijapungua we are risking our lives,” said Edwin Mutembei.

The contractor tasked with constructing the Enziu bridge is on-site, workers are toiling daily to complete the works which began in January 2022 and that were expected to be completed by December 2022.

One year since the deadline lapsed and the bridge is only 40% complete, workers say the project is dragging due to challenges in funding and that they have not been paid for five months.

“Kwa upande wangu hatuelewi nini mbaya na management, kile imefanya turudi tunapenda kazi yetu, tulirudi tuokolee kazi aone hawa wafanyikazi wako na nia ya wafanyikazi, hatujaona chochote tunapewa matumaini, mshahara ndio motivation ya kazi, kama halipwi hakuna motivation, kile inachangia iende pole pole ni hiyo mshahara,” Vincent Otieno, a casual labourer explained.

Collins Aluodo, a survivor of the bus tragedy, says the Nuu /Nguuni route evokes memories of his near-death experience. He wants the construction of the bridge fast-tracked to keep motorists safe.

“Kuna uwezekano janga kama lile lilifanyika miaka miwli iliyopita kurudia tena, kama tulionusurika hatutafurahia kuona kitu kama hivyo kufanyika tena ilhali kuna serikali kuu ,serikali ya kaunti, kama kuna tashwishwi katika ujenzi wa daraja la Enziu mkae chini kama serikali huyo contractor alipwea hiyo kazi awezeshwe kufanya hiyo kazi kwa haraka, kutakuwa na el nino, kama wananchi wa mwingi watafutiwe njia imalizike,” Aludo stated.

Mutembei added: “Tutafute njia zingine, waharakishe na mvua imefika msimu wake hatuoni solution ingine, ingewapa portions waharakishe haraka.” 

On December 7, 2021, two days after the bus tragedy, the government announced plans to construct a bridge, pumping half a million shillings into the project. Promises were made by various government officials to follow up on the project.

“We are in agreement we do not have 2 years to wait, we are not going to lose more lives here so the DG for KeRRA will bring a team to deliver this bridge in 10 months or less….We have managed to secure Ksh.120 million some four months ago,” Mwangi Maringa, the then Transport and Infrastructure Principal Secretary, said at the time.

Former Kitui Governor Charity Ngilu added: “Wale wamepoteza wapendwa wao are angry, I have listened and we pray what has happened here will never happen again.”

For now, residents can only watch from a distance as the El Nino season commences and the government fumbles over an important project, a bridge meant to save lives.