Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) is assessing the Sabaki Bridge in Magarini sub-county, Kilifi County, after soil erosion near the bridge sparked concerns.
KeNHA is investigating whether the erosion has compromised the crucial bridge that links Mombasa County to Tana River, Lamu, Garissa, Wajir, and Mandera counties.
According to residents, the River Sabaki changed its course seven days ago and has since caused erosion beside the bridge, endangering the safety of many.
Videos and images seen by Kenyans.co.ke, show parts of the banks near the bridge with faultlines, and others seem to be barely hanging on.
“We are worried that this bridge might crumble if the flooding continues,” one resident said.
“It started the other day with small cracks. Yesterday, the cracks became bigger and more concerning,” another resident asserted.
The images further show that parts of the bridge where the bridge touches the banks of the river have begun eroding.
The 224-metre-long bridge that spans the Sabaki River, Kenya's second-longest river, which flows from the Aberdare Ranges to the Indian Ocean, has been facing increased pressure as water levels rise across the country.
Built in 1997, the bridge acts as the sole inlet and outlet connecting the six counties. Any damage or closure would cause chaos in the counties seeking to move food and other commodities.
KeNHA is set to continue investigating the structural integrity of the bridge along Malindi–Mombasa Road and offer any recommendations on whether or not it needs reinforcing or a complete overhaul.
This is not the first time the bridge has required upgrades. The original bridge, built in 1962, was deemed unsafe and inadequate for maintenance and repair, necessitating the construction of a new one.
Already, the government has launched the construction of a footbridge across the Sabaki River, funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation.
With an estimated cost of Ksh58.6 million, this project will link the villages of Burangi and Sabaki, giving locals a safer way to cross the river, which is known to be inhabited by hippos and prone to flooding.
