MERU, Kenya- President William Ruto has announced that the government has set aside Sh7 billion for the construction of the long-awaited Nithi Bridge in Tharaka Nithi County, saying the contractor is already on site.
Speaking during his development tour of Meru County on Sunday, Ruto said the project is progressing as part of the government’s efforts to improve road safety and modernise transport infrastructure in the region.
“We have set aside KSh7 billion for the construction of Nithi Bridge. The contractor is on site,” the President said.
“The contractor has already concluded the compensation for the land.”
The reconstruction of Nithi Bridge has been one of the government’s flagship infrastructure projects after the crossing became notorious as one of Kenya’s deadliest accident black spots.
The project involves replacing the existing bridge with a safer, straighter alignment to eliminate the dangerous curves and steep descent that have contributed to numerous fatal road crashes over the years.
Earlier, the President said the new bridge had been redesigned to improve safety, noting that the government had approved new engineering plans to reduce accidents and enhance traffic flow along the busy Meru-Embu highway.
The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) awarded the construction contract to China Wu Yi Company Limited, with the project expected to take about three years to complete.
The works include the construction of a new bridge and the realignment of sections of the road to create gentler gradients and safer driving conditions while allowing traffic to continue using the existing route during construction.
Residents of Tharaka Nithi and neighbouring counties have long called for the reconstruction of the bridge following decades of fatal crashes that have claimed scores of lives.
The project is part of the government’s wider infrastructure agenda aimed at improving connectivity, boosting regional trade and reducing road fatalities across the country.