Construction of the Sh7.5 billion Nithi Bridge formally commences, Kindiki directs contractor to ensure speedy, quality works.

The Sh7.5 billion Nithi Bridge construction has officially started, with Deputy President Kithure Kindiki instructing the contractor to expedite work while preserving high quality and safety standards for the project aimed at ending decades of fatal accidents at the crossing. Spanning 880 meters and rising 100 meters above the Nithi River, the bridge will connect Marima and Mitheru via 2.7 kilometers of approach roads along the Nairobi-Embu-Meru highway.

The government has committed funding for the 24-month project, which is anticipated to be compressed without undermining engineering standards. During the commencement ceremony in Maara Constituency, Tharaka Nithi County, Kindiki recounted that residents have been advocating for a new bridge since 1985, despite successive governments lacking the financial means.

He lamented the loss of hundreds of lives in accidents at the crossing, with buses, lorries, and private vehicles falling into the river. Kindiki emphasized that residents had anticipated the bridge to be built during Kibaki's administration, whom they had supported in the 2002 elections. However, he lamented that the government couldn't afford the project during his tenure.

He also criticized Kibaki's successor, Uhuru Kenyatta, for leaving office without completing the bridge, despite their personal ties. Kindiki revealed that the Ruto administration initially focused on stabilizing the economy and repaying contractors before expanding road construction. The government has cleared Sh177 billion in arrears to contractors, enabling stalled road projects to resume.

Kindiki urged engineers to design a more ambitious bridge after an initial proposal deemed insufficient for safety concerns. He announced plans to construct 515 kilometers of tarmacked roads in Tharaka Nithi County, warning contractors of dismissals for delays.