The community, which relies heavily on agriculture, remains cut off from its farms and essential services due to the collapse of the essential infrastructure in August 2024. Poor local road networks have further hindered humanitarian access, security, and transportation of goods and services.
The county government reported that a survey was conducted, and a contract to rehabilitate the Atepi Bridge was awarded to Rhino Star Company. However, Magwi County Commissioner Pole Pole Benjamin expressed dissatisfaction with the progress.
“Until now, since we did the assessment, nothing has been done despite the contract being given to Rhino Star,” he said.
The commissioner highlighted the challenges caused by the bridge’s collapse, noting, “It’s very hard for humanitarian, government and even the community in case of emergency to access services, and we are looking at it that we should contract a pathway to help the community access services.”
To address this, the county government pledged to donate 50 bags of cement within the week to support the construction of a temporary pathway, with the commissioner stating, “We are ready to donate 50 bags of cement within this week to continue with their work so that our people can access services when they finish their work.”
In response to the crisis, the Owiny-ki-bul community, with support from a local organisation, initiated the construction of a temporary pathway along the Atepi River.
This pathway aims to enable farmers to reach their farmlands, allow schoolchildren to continue their education, and restore access to services. T
he community has purchased an iron stand with a capacity to support one motorcycle and pedestrians at a time, with only the foundation installation remaining. Head Chief Oyet Charles noted, “We tried to engage the government and wrote a request to the county government. We are waiting for feedback from the commissioner,” adding that their efforts are nearing completion despite challenges.
The government also plans to prioritise repairs on other deteriorating roads to improve food transportation and access to services. Commissioner Pole Pole stated, “We also have another road project for food transportation. We are also in close contact with other companies.”
The community continues to await the construction of a permanent bridge while relying on these temporary measures.
