Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua on Sunday, September 1, 2024, vowed to push for the fulfilment of the promise to redesign the Nithi Bridge in Meru.
Addressing the residents after attending a church service in the region, Gachagua assured them that he had spoken with Principal Secretary for Roads, Joseph Mbugua, who assured him that the design work for the bridge is nearly finalized.
The second in command confirmed that plans to re-engineer the Nithi Bridge was part of their campaign promises, but pledged to push for its initiation.
“Regarding the Nithi bridge, it is true we promised this. When I stepped outside, I called PS Engineer Mbugua, and he informed me that the designs are almost done,” Gachagua stated.
“I have urged him to expedite the process so that we can fulfill our promise to the péople of Meru.”
Campaign pledge
Before ascending into power in 2022, President William Ruto promised to push for the re-engineering of the infamous Nithi Bridge which had claimed several lives through road accidents.
Ruto assured the residents that the design of the bridge would be unveiled within six months.
However, almost two years after assuming office, the Kenya Kwanza administration has not launched the new design for Nithi Bridge.
Accident claims 12
Gachagua’s assurance promise comes after twelve people died in a head-on collision between a 10-seater van and a pickup truck at Nithi Bridge on Saturday, August 31, 2024 at night.
The crash occurred when the van, travelling to Nairobi, collided with a Meru-bound pickup, according to Tharaka Nithi Police Commander Zacheaus Ng’eno.
Ng’eno said the deceased included 10 adults and two children, all from the same van.
“It is yet another dark evening with 12 lives lost and two others injured in a collision between two vehicles, one heading to Meru and the other to Nairobi,” Ng’eno stated.
“The vehicle coming from Meru was not usually seen on this route. It appears the driver may have veered into the wrong lane, causing the héad-on cóllision.”
