Migori governor Okoth Obado has banned sugarcane hauling tractors with axle capacity of over 16 tons from using the Rapogi~Oria~Riat road after a bridge along the road collapsed.

Transport services have been paralyzed between Migori and Homa Bay counties when the tractor from Sukari Industries plunged into flooed River Kuja after the bridged collapsed on Tuesday night.

 “We are happy the driver is out of danger, but among measures we will put in place is ban on the road which we are currently improving into bitumen standards,” Obado said.

He said they will liase national and Sukari Industries to have a bigger and wider bridge built.

“We will ensure we have a bigger and better bridge as this bridge was built in 1970s. It was narrow we have more traffic flow in the area,” Obado said.

On April 16, the Migori Public Works and Roads Executive Moses Chamwada wrote to Sukari Industries to ban the tractors from using the vehilce.

“Some students hail from Migori and would cross the river every morning and evening to go to school. The bridge is also used by workers at the milling plant. Most people had not crossed from one side to the other when it collapsed,” Lucas Ongonga a villager said.