Residents of Theta Ward in Juja constituency, Kiambu County are a disillusioned lot given the dilapidated state of a makeshift bridge joining Juja Farm to Murera estates.
The bridge has seen better days; it is over two decades old and has now worn out with the ongoing heavy rains pounding the area.
Residents from these two areas feel used. They say the construction of a better bridge has been used for the last two decades as a campaigning tool but it has never really been constructed.
Several people have almost lost their lives as the bridge is narrow yet they have to pass through this to cross to the other side while raging waters of River Ruiru continue flowing fiercely.
The situation has now angered them and voiced their agony.
“Are they waiting for us to die like what happened in Solai?” asked a local as quoted by Capital FM News.
The Solai dam burst its banks a fortnight ago and swept an entire village. It left 47 people dead including young children. The tragedy was blamed on negligence by the dam’s owner Patel Mansukur and the government as well.
The situation in Theta is quite bad as residents have to rely on a section of youths to cross the bridge.
Children and the aged are worst hit.
“Recently I slept on this side of the road, inside a car because of this bridge. No car or motorbike could dare cross,” Hannah Wambui who is physically challenged said.
She noted that it is time politicians lived up to their promise of constructing the bridge.
“I urge our leaders to construct this bridge; it is a lifeline for this place. They should know a promise is a debt, let them keep their word.”
Boda boda operators in the area recounted that many at times, politicians from the area have assembled at that point and promised to have it constructed soonest.
Sammy Njoroge, one of the boda boda operators said the local MCA responded to cries about the bridge from his constituents by paying youths Sh1000 to put some brocks which people could step on.
This is quite dangerous as it requires a lot of balance and any mistake will see you swept away by raging waters below.
George Mungai, a resident appealed to the area MP Francis Waititu to help.
“Wakapee (his nickname) knows about this but let it be a reminder that we want something done very fast. We feel left out and he should do something about this dangerous bridge,” said Mungai.