Bobasi Protesters Met with Teargas Barrage in Police Clash
On Monday, law enforcement in the Nyamache region of Bobasi employed tear gas to scatter locals who were protesting for the reconstruction of a nearby bridge destroyed by flash floods twelve months prior.
The damaged bridge has disrupted transportation between Nyamache Town and nearby areas.
The recent protests were part of a series of demonstrations spearheaded by local MCAs Michael Motume from Masige West, Jacob Bagaka from Masige East, and the deputy governor.
The leaders reported that the absence of the bridge has disrupted connectivity to the business district, sub county hospital, and local administrative offices.
People who talked to reporters urged Bobasi MP Innocent Obiri to hasten the repair efforts for the bridge.
Grace Nyamoti, who lives in Tukia ya Mwana, expressed that there are significant difficulties in transporting bodies to and from the nearby morgue at Nyamache Sub-county Hospital.
“It gets worse when you have an expectant mother or a patient requiring emergency treatment at the health facility,” she said.
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Other inhabitants likewise urged the Member of Parliament to promptly address the bridge issue, emphasizing that it played a significant role in their strong support for him during the elections.
“If he cannot manage, he should surrender it to other agencies willing to help so that normalcy can be restored,” Samuel Mokua said.
The resident mentioned that they’ve organized comparable demonstrations before, yet no action has been taken, leaving them still enduring hardships.
“This is not the first, we have been here severally. This is the sixth one and I’m now doubting whether the MP is emphatising with our plight,” Mokua added.
Nyabuto Ototo, a community advocate, mentioned that several shops located close to the bridge have already shut down.
They mentioned that there have been reports of individuals drowning while trying to traverse the deteriorating bridge, with the most recent occurrence involving a rider who slipped into the river when his motorcycle veered out of control.
Local council members have issued a two-week deadline to Member of Parliament Obiri, demanding that he repair the bridge or brace for a significant protest.
“I’m an elected leader too like him but that does not mean I will not wake up the MP for failing in his duty,” Motume told reporters.
Bagaka advocated for competent political leadership, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing small-scale projects.
Bobasi Protesters Met with Teargas Barrage in Police Clash