Residents of Mbiuni location in Mwala sub county on Thursday complained about the high transport cost they are incurring due to the long routes they are being forced to follow due to the swelling of the seasonal Kathama river which has made the bridge that runs over it impasable.
Since the onset of the prevailing heavy rains it has become dangerous for motorists and pedestrians. The residents therefore have to use the route that passes through Mutula, Mwala via Kimutwa and other several markets before finally getting to Kabaa market.
The substitute road is however four times more expensive as verified by the area chairman of the boda boda Sacco in the area Mr. Michael Kilele.
"The boda boda operators are currently experiencing great losses since most of the customers are unable to pay such high amounts for transport. The few people who pay are mostly the business owners in the markets around who are also experiencing losses," explained Mr. Kilele.
The residents have therefore called upon the Machakos county government to intervene and construct a higher bridge to make the shorter roads passable.