A few days ago, the Sh7.5 billion new Nithi Bridge project that comprises 880-metre bridge and 2.7 kilometres of approach roads connecting Marima and Mitheru centres, started receiving serious attention, especially considering that it has taken decades for successive governments to replace the existing bridge.

The current Nithi Bridge, constructed in 1985, has been Kenya’s most notorious black spot, and often led to serious accidents along the Nairobi-Embu-Meru highway. And residents have always appealed to the government to work out a safer crossing.

Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, during the launch of construction works in Maara Constituency on Thursday, October 22, said the project will close the accident risks once complete.

“For 17 years, during President Moi’s administration, the government did not have the money to construct a new Nithi Bridge,” Kindiki said.

He added: “We thought that now that our own man was in power, the Nithi Bridge would be built. For the ten years of the Kibaki presidency, we pleaded, cried and petitioned for a new, modern bridge, but the government did not have enough funds to build it.”

Even if the completion of the project is set to take two years, DP Kindiki says the government is in push to cut the timeline while maintaining the required engineering and safety standards.

Kindiki was quoted saying the 880-metre bridge will rise 100 metres above the Nithi Bridge, and have an additional 2.7 kilometres of approach roads connecting Marima and Mitheru trading centers. He also said President William Ruto’s administration needed more time to finalise the design and secure funding ahead of the project kick off.

Kithure said the project has taken long to take off because of complex engineering design as well as high construction cost. It is on the back of this, he adds, that the Kenya Kwanza regime has poured some Ksh.7.5 billion to ensure the construction starts without any financial constraints.