Transport Cabinet Secretary, Kipchumba Murkmomen, on Monday, March 13, stated that the government was keen on redesigning the River Nithi bridge.
While meeting leaders from Tharaka Nithi County, led by Governor Muthoni Njuki, at his Nairobi office, the CS highlighted four steps that will be actioned.
These were realigning, redesigning, dualling the bridge and erecting speed bumps.
“We also discussed the issues concerning the Nithi Bridge, which has become a black spot due to its faulty design.
"We have already commenced the process to to prevent further loss of lives at the spot,” the CS noted.
According to the CS, President Ruto, was keen on the changes being effected within a small timeline, to curb loss of lives.
In the four-step action plan, engineers would redesign sharp corners and convert the section between Marima and Mitheru markets into a dual carriage.
This preventive measure would reduce the number of head-on collisions recorded between vehicles.
Speed bumps will further help drivers to slow down in critical sections of the road. Road furniture like warning signs will be erected to guide drivers and indicate speed limits too.
The Nithi bridge is one of the deadliest sections on the Nairobi-Meru highway, recording several accidents, from head-on collisions to vehicles plunging into the river.
On July 24, 2022, a 45-seater Modern Coast bus traveling from Maua to Mombasa plunged into River Nithi, with more than 30 people dying instantly.
In the incident, the driver’s wife lamented that her husband was forced to drive with faulty brakes.
On December 3, 2022, a bus carrying wedding guests from Meru to Nairobi was also involved in an accident at the same black spot. Four fatalities were recorded.
