Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has announced that construction of the long-delayed Nithi Bridge is now set to begin, with the government citing the resolution of key hurdles that had stalled the project for years.
Speaking recently, Kindiki said funding has already been secured and a contractor identified, clearing the way for works to commence. He attributed previous delays to compensation challenges and procedural processes involving the National Land Commission (NLC) but maintained that those issues are now largely resolved.
“We have allocated funds for Nithi Bridge and identified a contractor. The project was delayed due to issues with the National Land Commission and compensation, but now everything is in place and construction will proceed,” he said.
The Deputy President revealed that he had earlier rejected an initial design for the bridge, arguing that it failed to adequately address the safety concerns that have long plagued the area, particularly dangerous bends and steep sections.
“We were not satisfied with the earlier design. I personally rejected it because it would not have solved the problem due to dangerous corners and slopes. That is why it took time,” he explained.
Kindiki described the bridge as a decades-old challenge, noting that efforts to construct it date back to the 1980s but remained unfulfilled through successive administrations.
“Nithi Bridge has been a problem since 1985. Appeals were made during the time of President Moi, and later under President Kibaki and President Uhuru, but the project was never completed,” he said.
He emphasised that the renewed push to build the bridge is not a response to recent public demonstrations, but rather a result of the government’s current ability to deliver the project.
“The Nithi Bridge will not be built because of demonstrations. It will be built because it must be done and we now have the capacity to do it,” he stated.
At the same time, Kindiki dismissed ongoing protests as ill-timed, arguing that the project is already underway at the planning stage. He maintained that his office is directly responsible for ensuring its completion.
“I am the one in charge of delivering this project. Demonstrating now is like protesting against yourselves. I will ensure the Nithi Bridge is built because I have the power and responsibility to do so,” he added.
According to the Deputy President, the final outstanding step involves compensation for affected landowners through the National Land Commission. He estimated that approximately Ksh200 million will be required and called for expedited access to the land to avoid further delays.
“We are now remaining with the National Land Commission compensation process, which is taking longer than expected. About Ksh200 million is required to compensate those affected, and we are appealing for early access to speed things up,” he said.
Once completed, Kindiki noted, the Nithi Bridge is expected to become one of the longest bridges in Kenya, marking a major infrastructure milestone and addressing long-standing safety concerns along the route.
