Foot bridges implemention during financial year 2009/2010

BACKGROUND

Rural Footbridges have been constructed in many parts of the country over the last few years. They are very crucial in protecting the lives of the people crossing flooded rivers, shortening travel distances and promoting trade in the villages and local markets.  They have benefited the rural communities to save on travel costs and travel times. They have also assisted farmers and local traders to deliver their produce / goods to the markets within a short time.

The Government of Kenya through the Ministry of Public Works made the first budgetary allocation for construction of footbridges along footpaths in both rural and urban areas during the 2005/2006 financial year.  The funding was up to the tune of Kshs.20 million.  A pilot project of 3 footbridges in the Rift Valley was commenced and implemented and the same took effect in that financial year.

In the subsequent financial year; the funding continued to be given at the rate of Kshs. 20million up to the financial year (2008/2009) when the allocation was increased to Kshs.25million. Over the period; the demand has tremendously increased to the level that at present the requests are in excess of 700 footbridges from all parts of the country.  At a conservative rate of Kshs. 5 million per footbridge; the estimated cost of implementation of the 700 would be in excess of Kshs.3.5Billion.

The proposed footbridges are meant to alleviate the suffering of pedestrians who normally have to wade through water to cross rivers; use temporary and dangerously laid logs to cross rivers; climb down and up steep valleys; walk through unpredictable seasonal rivers which pause eminent danger in case of upstream flooding or alternatively follow long routes in order to get to bridges along the roads which in most cases do not have segregated lanes for vehicular and human traffic.

In the year 2009/2010 the Government voted for Kshs.425m for the construction of 70 footbridges and in the year 2010/2011 Kshs. Was allocated. This financial year the figure has risen to

Below is a table showing the number of rural footbridges completed between 2007 and 2010 and also those projected to be completed in the current financial year.

LIST OF PROPOSED RURAL FOOTBRIDGES TO BE CONSTRUCTED IN THE 2010/2011 FY IN NYANZA AND RIFT VALLEY