Where lives hang in a balance with each crossing

Killer bridge at River Magada in Kisumu West has so far claimed 12 lives. Residents are now crying foul to the relevant authorities to come to their rescue. [Collins Oduor, Standard]

From a distance, one can easily mistake it for a normal crossing point that people use daily to access either side of Kamenya village in Kisumu West.

This, however, changes as you get closer to Thim Katindi Bridge on River Magada, which has now turned into a death trap.

The poorly constructed bridge hangs dangerously. Only a slab that was not swept away by flash floods remains to be used by commuters to either side of the river.

Sand harvesters along the river bank are the first to caution you as you approach the bridge. Each crossing attempt is a dice with death.

They claim they have witnessed it all as lives have been lost when victims slid and fell into the river before being swept away by the raging waters.

On Friday last week, the 12th victim in a span of one year died while crossing the bridge.

Caleb Odori, a father of three, had earlier crossed successfully to one side to buy food but on his return journey, he slid and fell into the river.

Yesterday, The Standard met some mourners who were preparing to cross the bridge to attend Odori’s burial. They included three men and two women.

The group stood on the banks of the fast-flowing river, removed some of their clothing and put in their bags, then held hands as they crossed with one of the men taking the lead.

“This is the reality we have to face every day. Most of the time when the water rises, you have to spend the night on the other side of the village,” said Joseph Opiyo, one of the mourners.

Lucky escape

He claimed that he had escaped death by a whisker on multiple occasions but he keeps using the bridge since there is no alternative crossing point.

At the burial of the latest victim, the family of the father of three who lives close to the river said the bridge had robbed them of their breadwinner

Felix Ochieng, Odori’s son, said his father could not be saved after he fell into the water because the river is fast flowing.

The deceased’s brother, John Juma, said that lack of a proper bridge is denying them access to health facilities and forcing them to travel long distances in search of food and other amenities.

A few metres away from Odori’s home, another family is yet to come to terms with the loss of a relative who died in similar circumstances.

Consolata Omoro slid and fell into the river three months ago, just a few days after another man from the same village, Malachi Owino died at the same spot.

The residents claimed that they have to do with the little they have during the rainy season because they cannot risk crossing the river to buy food.

Area MP Olago Aluoch, who started an initiative to construct the bridge several years ago but stopped, admitted that the bridge and three others in the area are a death trap.

“The place is dangerous and has claimed several lives,” Olago said.

He added; “There was no bridge across the river at all in the area. During my first term as MP, I started constructing one but then the Kenya Roads Act came into effect and placed bridge construction under the county governments.”

The MP, however, noted that he has started an initiative together with the locals to construct footbridges and has already held a fundraiser.

“We are working to establish two footbridges using our own resources and locals have been very cooperative,” he said.