Motorists, residents call for re-engineering of Nithi River Bridge
By Antynet Ford
The government has been called to ensure the speedy re-engineering of the Nithi River bridge to avoid the consistent loss of lives at the place which is currently marked a black spot.
Calling for the renovations, Motorists and residents stated that the bridge has been the cause of six accidents so far since the start of 2024.
On Sunday, April 8, 2024, four people tragically lost their lives at the spot while several overs were left with serious injuries after a Kensilver Sacco bus they were traveling to Meru rolled at the bridge.
The bus en route from Maua to Nairobi was carrying 39 passengers at the time of the incident.
According to the conductor of the bus Douglas Gathiru, the motor vehicle developed a brake failure which made the driver to act swiftly but they crashed against the meanders.
“The bus developed brake system failure at Marima before descending the Nithi Bridge slope, which is a black spot, forcing the driver to act swiftly and crash the bus against the sloping meanders.” He said.
This comes a few weeks after 38 students and 10 teachers narrowly escaped death at the same location when a school bus belonging to Itoleka Girls’ Secondary School suffered brake failure.
Stretching across 50 meters, Nithi Bridge has earned a reputation as a black spot due to its location between the Marima and Mitheru markets, with sharp bends posing significant hazards, especially given the limited visibility for drivers.
Various proposals, including rerouting the road, erecting a new bridge, or reshaping the existing one, are under consideration between the County Government of Tharaka Nithi and the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) to address the treacherous conditions of the bridge.
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