Nithi Bridge. Photo | courtesy.
Kenya has secured an agreement with China to fund the reconstruction of the notorious Nithi Bridge, a dangerous blackspot on the Embu–Meru highway that has claimed dozens of lives over the decades.
The deal was finalized during President William Ruto’s state visit to Beijing, where he met with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
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The Nithi Bridge upgrade is part of a broader infrastructure cooperation package under the Belt and Road Initiative, which also includes the expansion of major highways and the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) extension.
State House spokesperson Hussein Mohamed confirmed that China will partner with Kenya on the bridge’s construction, fulfilling a pledge President Ruto made in March to complete the project by 2027.
Built in the early 1980s, the Nithi Bridge has earned the grim nickname “killer bridge” due to the numerous fatal accidents that have occurred over the years.
From a tragic bus plunge in 2000 that claimed more than 45 lives, to a 2022 accident that killed 33 people, and the most recent incident in April 2024, which took four lives, the bridge has become a symbol of ongoing road safety failures.
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Despite these recurring tragedies, no significant upgrades have been made. Leaders from Meru and the surrounding regions have consistently called for a redesign of the road to improve safety.
The Nithi Bridge project is among several major infrastructure deals signed during Ruto’s visit, which also include the dualing of the Nairobi–Nakuru–Mau Summit–Malaba highway, the Kiambu–Northern Bypass, and the Eldoret Bypass.
China also committed to extending the SGR from Naivasha to Kisumu and onward to Malaba.
The agreements, totaling Sh137 billion (approximately $1.06 billion), are expected to create over 28,000 jobs across various sectors, including manufacturing, agriculture, and tourism.
President Ruto emphasized that these projects are not just about infrastructure but also about building trust, mutual respect, and shared prosperity between Kenya and China.
The funding for the Nithi Bridge and other projects will be facilitated through Public-Private Partnerships, with the China Development Bank providing financing for 15 rural roads across the country.
