How empty promises by politicians led to deaths at Nithi Bridge

Police reports and details indicate that the tragic Saturday night accident at Nithi Bridge, involving a matatu and a pickup, which claimed 12 lives, could have been avoided.

According to Tharaka Nithi Police Commander Zachaeus Ng’eno, ten adults and two minors were travelling in the matatu from Kirirwa village in Nkubu, Meru County, to Rongai. As they descended the steep Nithi slope, their vehicle veered out of its lane and crossed into the oncoming lane, resulting in a head-on collision with the pickup.

In a press briefing, the County Police Chief revealed that the matatu was not typically used on the Meru-Nairobi highway route. The driver failed to adhere to lane regulations, leading to the collision with the vehicle heading towards Meru from the opposite direction.

“We recovered 12 bodies from the scene. Investigations show that the vehicle coming from Meru was not accustomed to this route, and the driver’s failure to stay in his lane led to the head-on collision,” he said.

Shortly after the 9 p.m. incident, a Toyota Sienta heading towards Chuka crashed into a stalled lorry at the scene. The matatu, part of a convoy ferrying friends from Rongai who were in Meru for a parental blessings ceremony, was severely damaged. The occupants of the pickup were rushed to the hospital, and the deceased were taken to Chuka Level 5 Hospital mortuary.

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, speaking at Mikumbune Methodist Church in Meru on Sunday, stated that the designs for re-engineering the bridge were nearly complete. He pledged to follow up with the Ministry of Roads and Transport to expedite the process.

“I have spoken with the Roads PS, Eng. Joseph Mbugua, to ensure that the President’s promise to re-engineer the bridge is fulfilled. The designs are almost complete, and I have urged him to accelerate the process so we can honour that promise and save lives,” he said.

On March 12, 2023, President William Ruto announced that his government would allocate funds to re-engineer the bridge. The following day, then-Cabinet Secretary for Roads and Transport Kipchumba Murkomen committed to redesigning the bridge to reduce road carnage.