By Ian Omondi

Residents of Cham Gi  Wadu village in Rongo Sub County on Sunday staged a protest after a bridge that was under construction by Migori County government collapsed just a day after construction work was completed.

The residents expressed their displeasure in the casual way in which the contractors were handling construction  work at Ondhong bridge which they termed as shoddy.

Margaret Aoko, a resident of ChamGiWadu village accused the contractors of sleeping on their job and leaving the work to inexperienced workers leading to the collapse of the bridge.

Aoko said “Governor Obado promised to build this bridge din his final term but this shoddy work is a shame to his administration.”

They said that their suffering have been persistent especially during rainy seasons when school going children are forced to travel for close to three kilometers in search  of accessible roads to school.

“Our children walk for over three Kilometers whenever it rains because the river liking Chamgiwadu village and the neighboring villages over flood posing a life risk to the kids.” posed another local

The residents now want the contractor to be laid off and the work handed over to competent contractor.

South Kamagambo MCA Kevin Oyugi has however urged the residents to remain calm and let the contractor finish the ongoing construction.

“We have informed the county engineer who had been contracted for the job and he is willing to redo the work so there is no major cause for alarm.” said Oyugi.

County roads engineer Elphas Onyango refuted claims of shoddy work saying the bridge collapsed due to negligence by some casual laborers.

“The bridge had not dried properly dried but one of the workers deflated the balloon that held the concrete resulting into the collapse.” Said Onyango.

He said a team of the workers are already in the site and are currently working on the bridge