Deputy President Kithure Kindiki leading a team of leaders during an inspection of Mikinduri–Kunati–Gatithini Road project in Tigania East, Meru Countyon February 25, 2025 Deputy President Kithure Kindiki said the State has secured Sh7 billion for the construction of a new, modern bridge designed to enhance safety for motorists using the busy highway linking Tharaka Nithi and Meru counties.
“We needed Sh7 billion for the bridge, and we now have the funds. The contractor will be here soon. The public was engaged for their input on Monday, and I will be bringing the contractor to start construction soon,” he said.
Kindiki spoke on Wednesday during an inspection tour of the ongoing Mikinduri–Kunati–Gatithini Road project in Tigania East, Meru County.
He revealed that the new bridge will stretch approximately 880 metres, making it one of the longest in the region, and will connect the Marima and Mitheru sections.
According to the DP, the design will address long-standing safety concerns that have made the current Nithi Bridge a black spot.
Nithi Bridge has for years been associated with fatal road crashes, largely attributed to its steep descent, sharp bends and the narrow structure that leaves little room for error.
The bridge lies along the Embu–Meru highway, a critical transport corridor serving the Upper Eastern region and facilitating trade between Meru, Tharaka Nithi, Embu and neighbouring counties.
Several major accidents involving buses, miraa transport vehicles and private cars have occurred at the site, often resulting in multiple fatalities.
Road safety experts have repeatedly called for a redesign and expansion of the bridge to reduce the risk posed by speeding vehicles descending from the Chuka side towards the River Nithi valley.
The planned reconstruction is expected not only to improve safety but also to boost regional connectivity by easing the movement of goods and passengers along the highway.
The Deputy President also announced that the expansion of the Makutano–Embu–Chuka–Meru–Maua highway is underway, with plans to upgrade it into a dual carriageway before the end of the year.
“We are going to ensure this road is a dual carriageway, and the construction will commence this year,” he said.
He added that the government is pushing for the establishment of a National Infrastructure Fund to accelerate road construction and other development projects across the country.
According to the DP, funds have been allocated for the completion of more than 6,000 kilometres of stalled road projects nationally, including over 350 kilometres in Meru County.
“We now have adequate funds. We have paid contractors Sh177 billion and they are back on site to complete the projects. By next Christmas, we will have completed all the 6,000 kilometres of roads that had stalled for many years. On top of these roads, we have more money for new roads,” he said.
Prof Kindiki assured residents that the long-delayed Mikinduri–Kunati–Gatithini Road will be completed on schedule, noting that 10 stalled road projects in Meru County have since been revived.
He dismissed critics who claim the government has neglected the region, arguing that multiple development projects are ongoing.
“Those saying the Ruto government has done nothing for the people of Meru will be ashamed because there is a lot of work going on,” he said.
On miraa exports, the Deputy President said the government has finalized plans to capitalise on the reopening of the Kenya–Somalia border to facilitate smoother transportation of the crop to the neighbouring country.
“We will provide security for miraa exportation through the Mandera, Liboi and Kiunga border points,” he said.
The reconstruction of Nithi Bridge is expected to be a landmark infrastructure project for the Upper Eastern region, offering renewed hope that the deadly stretch will finally shed its reputation as one of Kenya’s most dangerous road sections.
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