Tragic accident involving Kensilver bus at Nithi Bridge ignites urgent calls for bridge overhaul

Several individuals are feared dead following a devastating accident involving a Kensilver Bus, registration number KBN 309F, at Nithi Bridge along the Meru-Nairobi highway in Tharaka Nithi County on Sunday, April 7, 2024.

The bus en route from Maua to Nairobi was carrying 39 passengers at the time of the incident, which occurred around 11 am.

“We have not been able to confirm the number of fatalities but we are certain we have some fatalities. We are yet to know what exactly was the cause of the accident because it is subject to investigation. We want to confirm with the hospitals where the victims have been taken to, to confirm the number of fatalities and those injured,” County Police Commander Zacheaus Ng’eno stated.

“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,” Douglas Gathiru, the bus conductor recounted the harrowing moments.

Motorists and residents have now called on the government to ensure the speedy re-engineering of the bridge as promised to avert more incidents. According to residents, the black spot has been the cause of over 6 accidents this year.

Black spot

This incident follows a similar one on March 15, where 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 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.

Past tragedies, such as the fatal incident in 2022 involving a Modern Coast Bus that claimed 36 lives, the August 2000 accident that claimed 45 lives and injured 27, and another in 1998 resulting in the demise of 56 individuals aboard a Stage Coach bus, highlight the urgent need for action.