Construction on the long-awaited Ksh7 billion Nithi Bridge project has officially begun, sparking optimism among Tharaka Nithi County residents who hope the new infrastructure will permanently eliminate a notorious road hazard while driving local economic growth.
The project, tendered by the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA), focuses on realigning the Nithi Bridge along the critical Makutano-Embu-Meru (A9) Road. Preparatory works and heavy machinery are already active on site.
The overhaul stems from a strategic bilateral agreement on connectivity projects reached between Kenya and China during President William Ruto’s State Visit to China in 2025.
For decades, the Nithi crossing has earned a grim reputation as one of Kenya’s deadliest blackspots, with sharp descents and tight curves contributing to frequent fatal crashes.
Dennis Mureithi, a resident of Chuka in Igamba Ng’ombe, expressed relief as civil works got underway.
“We as residents of Tharaka Nithi County are very happy. We expect that when this bridge is completed, there will be no more accidents,” Mureithi stated. “Nithi Bridge has taken lives for many years. Now we have hope that the problem is finally being taken seriously.”
According to KeNHA tender specifications, the overhaul entails constructing a new bridge across the Nithi River, executing extensive road realignments, setting up bridge furniture and road markings, and implementing comprehensive traffic management infrastructure. Rising significantly above the valley floor, the redesign eliminates the dangerous bends that previously compromised heavy transport safety.
Beyond safety improvements, the A9 corridor serves as a vital trade artery linking Makutano, Embu, and Meru. Local farming communities expect the modernized transit route to streamline the transportation of agricultural produce to broader regional markets.
Mureithi noted that the visible progress on the ground counters skeptics while offering immediate economic benefits to the surrounding area through employment.
“There are people outside there saying the government is only planning and not doing. But here, we can see preparations taking place. They are planning, they are allocating resources, and they are implementing,” he added.
“This is a very big project. My hope is that the people of Tharaka Nithi will get a big opportunity to work here and benefit from it.”
Confirming the project’s shift into active development, Member of Parliament Japheth Nyakundi noted that the initiative marks a definitive turning point for regional transport infrastructure.
“The Ksh7 billion Nithi Bridge in Tharaka Nithi County is now under construction, with machinery on site and work progressing. For years, the Nithi Bridge was associated with tragedy and fear. Today, the story is changing from a long-standing death trap to a modern infrastructure project aimed at improving safety, connectivity, and livelihoods,” Nyakundi said.
“This is more than just concrete and steel. It is about safer journeys, better connectivity, stronger trade and improved livelihoods for the people of Tharaka Nithi and the wider Meru region,” Nyakundi added, noting that no legal challenges have delayed the project’s rollout.
As civil works continue, residents and motorists along the Eastern corridor anticipate both enhanced safety standards and expanded commercial opportunities once the bridge reaches completion.
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