Construction at Nithi Bridge has inched forward after the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) received permission to access land needed for the project.
In a statement released on Wednesday, July 1, the agency said the National Land Commission (NLC) granted the approval through an Early Entry Request. KeNHA said the decision will allow contractors to start work on the new bridge alignment while the ongoing land acquisition and compensation process for affected property owners continues.
“KeNHA has received approval from the National Land Commission (NLC) to begin construction on the new alignment of Nithi Bridge through an Early Entry Request, pending the completion of land acquisition and compensation for affected property owners,” the statement read.
The Authority added that the early-entry approval is meant to give timely access to the required land, helping protect the project’s timeline and reduce the risk of extra costs caused by delays.
KeNHA also said it has already informed members of the public and all Project Affected Persons (PAPs), and it formally issued them with Early Entry notices.
“The Early Entry approval allows access to eligible land to ensure uninterrupted project implementation, safeguard public interest, and avoid delays and additional contractual costs. Members of the public and Project Affected Persons (PAPs) were sensitized on the process and issued with Early Entry notices,” the statement added.
KeNHA said the compulsory land acquisition process has reached an advanced stage, with key steps already completed to support the continued rollout of the bridge project.
“The exercise was led by the Tharaka Nithi County Commissioner, KeNHA, and the National Land Commission. Land acquisition is at an advanced stage, with the gazette notice issued and land inspection completed, paving the way for continued project implementation,” the statement indicated.
China Wu Yi won the contract for the works through a competitive procurement process and is expected to deliver the bridge within three years. KeNHA said it awarded the contract on February 18, 2026, at a total cost of Ksh7,499,010,892.
The agency reported that geotechnical investigations are underway, final designs are being prepared, and the contractor has started mobilizing to the site. It put the project’s current progress at 0.5 percent.
KeNHA noted that the bridge sits on a sharp horizontal curve with an approximate radius of 90 meters, forming part of a broader S-curve along the alignment. It also said the surrounding terrain includes steep vertical gradients ranging from 10 percent to 24 percent, as motorists travel from the Nithi River toward Marima Shopping Centre.
The authority said the combination of steep gradients, limited sight distance, and tight curves makes this section particularly dangerous for drivers. It added that the risk increases due to poor driving behavior, including speeding and failure to follow lane discipline.
“The existing bridge is therefore prone to accidents due to the challenging terrain, limited sight distances, and steep curves, exacerbated by poor driver behavior such as disregard for lane discipline and speed limits,” the agency said.
Under the proposed redesign, the new bridge will span 880 meters. KeNHA said it will use a pre-stressed concrete box girder design supported by pile foundations.
The plan includes 22 spans of 40 meters each, and the tallest central piers will rise to about 100 meters. The bridge deck will measure 13 meters in width, with a 7-meter carriageway and 2-meter footpaths on both sides, separated by concrete crash barriers.
The project will also involve roughly 2.1 kilometers of improved approach roads linking Marima Center and Mitheru Centre. KeNHA said the upgrades will help make the full stretch safer and easier to navigate.
KeNHA added that the government will fund the works through Kenya’s development budget. It said the design phase will take four months and will run on an expedited timeline, while construction will take 24 months, with completion targeted for early 2028.
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