Gachagua: Redesign of killer Nithi Bridge almost complete

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has assured road users the redesign of the Nithi Bridge on the Chuka-Meru Road in Tharaka Nithi County is almost complete.

Speaking in Meru County on Sunday, Gachagua assured that the government will not renege on its promise to redesign the bridge.

“I called the PS when I walked outside to get an update on the pledge we made. He has told me the designs are almost complete, and I have asked him to speed up the process,” the DP said.

Gachagua made the remarks hours after 12 people lost their lives following a crash involving a van and a pickup truck at Nithi Bridge on Saturday.

“We had an accident last night, 12 people died and others were injured. Emotions in Meru are very high, people are asking questions, and they want answers,” the DP said.

Gachagua promised to personally follow up on the matter.

The victims of Saturday’s accident included eight adults, two adults, and two teenagers.

The Nithi Bridge remains a black spot that continues to haunt travellers along Meru-Embu road ever since this section of the road was commissioned in 1985.

The worst accident at the bridge since the commissioning of the road occurred on August 25, 2000.

The black spot hit international media with headlines that at least 45 people were killed when a passenger bus plunged into the Nithi River in eastern Kenya’s Meru district.