The collapsed Sigiri Bridge in Budalang'i whose reconstruction was flagged off on Wednesday. Photo/the-star.co.ke
The reconstruction of the collapsed Sh1.2 billion Sigiri Bridge in Budalang’i constituency has begun.Budalang’i MP Ababu Namwamba who constituency the bridge is found said Transport and Infrastructure Cabinet Secretary James Macharia will flag off construction works at the bridge’s site on Wednesday.Water Cabinet Secretary and former Saboti MP Eugene Wamalwa will also attend the event.“Prior to arriving at Sigiri, Cabinet Secretaries Macharia and Wamalwa will inspect progress of construction of Busia-Malaba road that is being upgraded to bitumen standard. They will also preside over the launch of the Social Support Fund for the Elderly, a cash transfer program to those aged 70 and above in Busia town,” Ababu said on Wednesday.Construction works will be undertaken by Chinese Oversees Construction and Engineering Company which was responsible for the ridge’s building before it collapsed.The bridge collapsed on June 26, ten days after President Uhuru Kenyatta inspected it during his tour of Busia County.Over 15 workers at the site were hospitalised following the incident as the Transport ministry suspended construction.Investigations over the bridge’s collapse are still ongoing.Covec project manager Jerome Xzue Hua defended the Chinese company constructing the bridge over claims the firm did not adhere to the required engineering standards.“This is very unusual because all the standards and specifications required by the employer were met,” he said.“We have experienced engineers and we are equally baffled by what happened. We hope to find the root cause of the problem and rectify the matter.”The project was to be completed by the end of July and Uhuru was to officially launch it.