Residents of Baringo County living along the Perkerra River are asking the government to construct a bridge on a section of the river to facilitate safe passage for learners during the rainy season.
They say learners are often forced to brave the floods to cross the river on their way to school, putting their lives at risk.
Citizen TV visited the area where, on a Thursday morning, a group of children were waiting for the raging waters of River Perkerra to subside before they could attempt to walk across to school.
The wait costs them valuable class time they can hardly afford.
Dida Kipyegon knows only too well the sacrifice he must make to ensure his three children make it to class.
With love and utmost care, he carries them one by one across the risky section of the road, aware that any slip could prove catastrophic.
“Nahofia usalama wao lakini sasa nifanye aje ilhali sina pesa ya kuwalipia kila siku, ndio maana mimi mwenyewe nakuja kuwavukisha ili niweze kumpeleka mpaka nyumbani,” said Kipyegon.
The rains have turned the section of the road impassable, as they do every year.
During the dry period, crossing the section of the road is already challenging. But during the rainy season, when the river swells and the currents grow stronger, the journey becomes even more terrifying.
“Ikinyesha huko juu maji inakuja na force, wakati watu wanajaribu kuvuka inadrown inabeba hawa watu,” he added.
The school is not far from the road.
Ordinarily, it would take the learners at least fifteen minutes to report to school. But when the road is swallowed by floodwaters, the only other option is a seven-kilometre journey on foot or a costly boda boda ride that many cannot afford.
“Wanafunzi shule iko tu hapa kando hapa ya shule ni mahali anaweza kuchukua dakika kumi na tano, lakini akisunguka hiyo njia mrefu atachukua masaa mawili au matatu ili afike, akitumia boda boda ambayo ni shilingi 150 kwenda pekee,” Kipyegon explained.
The dangerous crossing has already claimed three lives since the rainy season started.
“Hapa hata watu wazima kila mwaka kuna kuwa na incident where watu wanasombwa na maji hapa ama sehemu zingine za hii mto,” he lamented.
Residents are now urging the government to urgently intervene and construct a bridge to prevent further tragedies.
“Kwanza ni kuomba serikali kuu iweze kutusaidia itujengee daraja,” he noted.
Despite these tragedies, the river still has no footbridge, even though the county government had previously promised to construct one.
For many residents, that promise now feels like a distant dream.
As parents continue to carry their children through the dangerous waters each day, the community fears that without urgent intervention, it may only be a matter of time before another tragedy strikes.
