Heavy rains wash away Sh100m Kajiado bridge days after launch

The Sh100 million Paai Bridge as seen on February 24, 2022. PHOTO | COURTESY | PAAI RESIDENTS

A newly built bridge in Paai, Kajiado East, has collapsed after heavy rains pounded the area over the past few days, leaving residents stranded on either side.

The pillars gave in to the pressure from flash floods Wednesday night, breaking in the middle. The remaining support structures are shaky and may collapse too.

“The bridge tumbled down in the middle of the night. Those individuals who were waiting for the rains to subside to go home found the bridge collapsed,” said a resident.

The Sh100m bridge was launched last week by Kajiado Governor Joseph Ole Lenku in a colourful ceremony.

Governor Lenku said at the time that the structure would help locals access medical facilities, markets and schools with ease.

The Paai bridge called an “inter-sub-counties connector”, links other parts of the county to Kinyawa Poka ward in Kajiado East that over the years had been isolated.

Before the bridge was built, scores of people, vehicles and animals had been washed away trying to cross the swollen river.

The main road connects the three wards of Matapato North, Mbirikani/Eselenkei and Kinyawa Pokato to Mashuru town, the nearest centre in the west with medical facilities, livestock market and other government services.

County officials, led by Governor Lenku, are expected to visit the site later in the day.