Presbyterian Church in Ireland - Mission Overseas - KENYA: New video tells the story of the building of the footbridge over the Galana River

9th September 2009

The Waata people living in Bombi, in the Malindi District of SE Kenya, no longer have to risk their lives to cross the crocodile-infested Galana River. Thanks to the recent completion of a suspension footbridge, they can now cross from one side to the other in perfect safety.

The River Galana is wide and until July this year the only way to cross this part of the river was to wade across it; at times in chest-high, swiftly flowing flood waters. Crossing the river in this way was highly dangerous, even when the waters were low, because of the risk of attack by crocodile or hippo. Sadly, there are so many sad stories of men, women and children being killed, not to mention many drowning.

Working in the area since 2002, Derek Roulston saw from the outset that it was imperative to have a footbridge, so that the community’s work would be sustainable. Now, seven years later the dream has been realised!

Derek had heard of Bridging the Gap (BTG), which has built over fifty suspended footbridges in Kenya, and contacted the Director, Harmon Parker, to ask for assistance with putting a bridge across the Galana River. Once the proposed site had been surveyed, it was immediately apparent that BTG’s standard suspended footbridge design would not be suitable because of the width of the river and a span-requirement of 112 metres (371 feet).

Through a series of connections, Harmon contacted Ken Frantz, founder of Bridges to Prosperity (B2P), to see if B2P would consider partnering with BTG in designing this much-needed footbridge.

After more than a year in construction, the new footbridge became operational this July.

Funding from AIG Investments, Gorta, as well as a number of congregations of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, made building the bridge possible. In fact, giving was so generous that sufficient funds were left over to meet half the cost of another bridge, which it is hoped can be erected at another point further along the Galana River.

Support within Kenya came from the Presbyterian Church of East Africa (PCEA) and, locally, from Kisiki Group Ranch.

A documentary film, Bridging The Gap, follows the project from start to finish.

Click here to go to the website where this video may be watch in High Definition or downloaded for viewing off-line.