Residents of Kimkasa in Kuresoi North, Nakuru County have been forced to explore unorthodox ways of transporting the bodies of the deceased amid struggles with the poor state of roads in the area.
Lack of a proper road network in the area has compelled residents to resort to using donkeys to facilitate funeral and burial logistics.
According to area residents, they have had to adapt to the poor state of the roads since their pleas to the administration have gone unheeded.
A video seen by Kenyans.co.ke showed the full scope of the situation, as mourners transported a coffin using a cart, typically used to ferry water and other items in rural areas. The residents are said to have travelled at least three kilometres to get the body to its intended destination.
One Kimkasa resident spoke on their plight, saying the practise of using donkeys to transport the deceased was the norm in Kuresoi North.
"Transporting bodies using donkeys is normal. So far 10 bodies have been transported this way. It's embarrassing," he said.
Besides mourners, other sectors in Kuresoi North have also been adversely affected by the lack of proper infrastructure in the region.
Farmers in the area have also incurred huge losses since their inability to transport produce to the market in time has led to a lot of waste.
The education sector has also taken a hit, with some parents reportedly opting to keep their children at home, rather than run the risk of using dilapidated bridges.
The situation in Kuresoi North was made direr by the rains, which completely alienated the already-brutal situation. Many vehicles are reported to have challenges accessing remote areas of Kimkasa.
In 2020, the Nakuru County Government under the governance of Lee Kinyanjui, launched the ambitious Boresha Barabara initiative, aimed at grading and gravelling access roads in the area.
One of the roads that saw considerable upgrade effort from the county government is the Chepkwet-Kabugnot road, which residents say was slightly improved to murram, but heavy rains once again dilapidated a large part of the stretch.
