The completion of the construction of the Ksh. 115million Shakahola-Hawe Wanje bridge in Magarini Sub County, Kilifi County has helped solve communication problems that the area has been facing for decades.
Residents of four villages and beyond were facing problems accessing either side of the crocodile infested Galana River and many lives and livelihoods have been lost due to flooding and attacks from crocodiles.
The construction of the bridge commenced in 2019 and was to take eleven months to complete but due to technicalities its construction was extended by three months.
The bridge is wide enough to accommodate several people and motorcycles and can also be used by a single vehicle crossing to either side.
According to Mr. Karisa Kahindi from Hawe Wanje village, accessing services such as health centres and even shops was a headache to those residents residing at Hawe Wanje village and beyond since they had to walk long distances and by reaching the river bank they were forced to wade through the water oblivious of the danger posed by the crocodiles.
“We are very happy now that the bridge has been completed and the contractor has opened it for use to the public. We were used to suffering but I am glad now that our people will not suffer again,” said Mr. Kahindi.
Mr. Kahindi added that with the coming of the bridge, more development is expected on the other side of the river which was under developed and has no social amenities such as health centres, markets and only one primary school.
His story is no different from that of Mr. Mathias Ngowa from Ropi village who said that some of his friends and relatives have been attacked, injured and others died from the crocodile attacks while trying to cross the river which is more than 200 metres wide.
“A boy was recently saved from a crocodile here and many of my friends have scars that remind them of the horrors of crossing this river but with the coming of the bridge we expect no incident of attacks,” he said.